The Alabama women’s basketball team came back from a double-digit first-half deficit to earn its first win of the regular season in its home opener, defeating the Wisconsin Badgers 70-62.
The previously unbeaten Badgers succumbed to a 17-2 Alabama run that stretched from the end of the first half to midway through the second and gave the Crimson Tide a lead it would not relinquish.
First-year coach Kristy Curry earned her first official win as head coach of the Crimson Tide after losses to Chattanooga, Nebraska and most recently No.2 Duke.
“It wasn’t the easiest start schedule-wise,” Curry said. “But for these girls to get a win against a great Big 10 team was really good for their confidence, so I’m really excited for them.”
Powered by forward Ashley Williams’ 13 second-half points, Alabama’s halftime adjustments thwarted Wisconsin forward Michala Johnson, who was Wisconsin’s leading scorer coming into Thursday’s game. Johnson finished with six points and five rebounds.
“Our scouting report was to control her on the left side, because she turns on the left shoulder, and just keep her contained,” Williams said.
Junior guard Daisha Simmons started the game with two steals in the first minute-and-a-half, the first of which Simmons converted into a layup to start the scoring effort for the Crimson Tide. Simmons had four steals before the end of the first half.
The Badgers drained their first three 3-pointer attempts from three different players. Forward Jackie Gulczynski started 3-of-5 from downtown on her way to leading Wisconsin in scoring with 13 points in the first half.
The Crimson Tide adjusted in the latter part of the first half, as Khadijah Carter scored three 3-pointers before the end of the half. Carter finished with 15 points and five rebounds
Ashley Williams finished with 18 points and eight rebounds, finishing the game as the leader in both categories for Alabama. Williams was also satisfied with the team’s effort paying off in the first win of 2013.
“It’s exciting,” Williams said. “We’ve been practicing so hard the last couple of days, just to get out there and get the win was great.”
Wisconsin guard Morgan Paige led all players on the court with 28 points, 13 of those coming a the free-throw line. No other Badger had a free-throw attempt.
Simmons’ fifth and final steal with 18.3 seconds left in the game iced the game after she converted her resulting two free throws to put the Crimson Tide up 68-62, a lead Alabama used to cruise to an 8-point win.
Alabama, now 1-3 on the season, will play its second home game of the season Monday against Alabama A&M before taking part in the Hilton Concord Thanksgiving Class in Moraga, Calif.
