“Really we just need to refocus from what happened tonight, go into practice tomorrow and play. It’s a whole new day,” sophomore Ashley Williams said after the game on Sunday. “Tonight just shows we need to build off of this and play together.”
One thing that has slipped from the team is balance on offense. In both games so far, only one player has scored more than 10 points. Williams scored 21 in the season opener, while freshman Hannah Cook was the lone player in double figures Sunday with 19 of the Crimson Tide’s 40 points.
“We are going to have to be a team that is more balanced, especially when you are as inexperienced as we are,” coach Kristy Curry said. “We always want better balance, not just Ashley and not just Hannah. We can’t pick and choose our nights to not be consistent.”
Cook, along with two other freshmen, has seen a lot of playing time.
Cook made her first start Sunday and was the leading scorer, while Meoshonti Knight scored 10 points in the season opener, and Diamante Martinez contributed with eight rebounds in that game.
“That’s the situation that we have inherited, I mean you got minutes to be played. I mean that’s a great opportunity for the freshmen to come into that situation. You know we have to grow up very quickly and learn as we go,” Curry said.
Jacksonville State will be the last game at home before Alabama travels to Lawrence, Kansas, for the Hall of Fame Women’s Challenge. Alabama will face three tough non-conference opponents over three days, starting with Kansas Friday.
“They are a much improved team with a new coaching staff. For a lot of those kids from Alabama, it’s the game of the year. So it’s a great opportunity for us to get back on the floor and try to be better than we were,” Curry said.
