Alabama Hosts Virginia in Final Game Before Break

The Alabama women’s basketball team (6-3) will play its final game before breaking for the holidays on Friday when it hosts Virginia (6-3) in Foster Auditorium. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. CT.

The Crimson Tide and Cavaliers will be meeting for the third time in program history on Friday and first since Nov. 25, 2005. Virginia has won the two previous matchups, first an 81-58 decision in Charlottesville, Va., on Dec. 4, 1987, followed by a 69-48 victory in St. Thomas during the 2005-06 season.

Alabama has lost three of its last four games, which started with a 69-50 defeat at Wisconsin, followed by a 72-58 loss to Chattanooga at home and most recently a 58-52 loss to Wofford. The Tide is averaging 74.1 points per game, 8.3 points higher than its opponents at 65.8 points per contest. Alabama continues to lead the Southeastern Conference and the nation in steals per game and turnover margin. The Tide is averaging 16.6 steals a game and has forced opponents to commit 14.25 more turnovers than Alabama does.

Sophomore Daisha Simmons leads the league and ranks 13^th in the nation in steals per game (3.75 spg) while junior Shafontaye Myers checks in at No. 2 in the SEC and No. 17 in the nation in three-point field goals per game with 3.0 made. Junior Jasmine Robinson currently leads the team in scoring with an average of 13.0 points per game. She is followed by Simmons (12.8 ppg), Myers (12.2 ppg) and senior Meghan Perkins (10.3 ppg). Senior Alicia Mitcham averages a team-best 6.4 rebounds per contest while Simmons leads the Tide in assists with four per game.

Virginia snapped its two-game losing streak with a 54-44 win over Coppin State on Tuesday. The Cavaliers three losses on the season have come against Syracuse (74-73), West Virginia (54-47) and Maryland (79-55). Virginia is averaging 66.6 points per game while holding opponents to 61.0 per contest. The Cavaliers are shooting 42.3 percent from the floor and 73.3 percent from the free throw line.

Junior Ataira Franklin leads all scorers on the Virginia roster with 12.5 points per game. She is followed by sophomore Sarah Imovbioh (11.7 ppg) and junior Kelsey Wolfe (11.1 ppg). Senior Telia McCall averages a team-high 6.7 rebounds while senior China Crosby has handed out a team-best 4.1 assists per game.

The game can be listened to on the Crimson Tide Sports Network on the radio on 790 AM with Mick Gillispie on the call.