Women’s basketball defeats Auburn-Montgomery in exhibition, 105-16

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CW / Hannah Saad

The Alabama women’s basketball team earned its first win of the season on Sunday, defeating Auburn-Montgomery 105-16 in an exhibition game.

Sophomore transfer guard Brittany Davis opened her Alabama career with 19 points. Davis, who transferred in from Gulf Coast State College and was named the Pan Handle Freshman of the Year and led Gulf Coast State to the NJCAA National Championship Game, knocked down three shots from three-point range to continue her hot shooting from the Canadian Tour this summer. Davis finished No. 15 in the nation with 83 makes in the 2018-19 season.

In her first game inside Coleman Coliseum, the Manchester, Georgia, native described it as “fun and special.”

“It was a good experience,” Davis said. “It was nice getting to go against other players and not ourselves.”

Senior Cierra Johnson, Alabama’s leading scorer last season, scored 10 points to join Davis as the only two players in double figures for the Crimson Tide. Alabama had eight players score at least five points and forced 27 turnovers.

Holding a 57-11 lead at halftime, the Crimson Tide carried over a 23-0 scoring run from the first half into the second, extending it to a 41-0 run. The Warhawks managed just five points in the second half and zero in the fourth. They shot 11% from the field for the game.

“Overall it was great to be in a real game environment,” coach Kristy Curry said. “In order for us to play how we want defensively we need depth, so our health this year will be key.”

Alabama went a perfect 18-for-18 at the free throw line, including Johnson who went 8-for-8.

Redshirt junior guard Jordan Lewis had eight points and five steals in her return to Coleman Coliseum after fracturing her wrist last December. Sitting at No. 9 on the Alabama career assists list, Lewis had three assists to add to her all-time total.

The scoring from the reserves added another element of attack for the Crimson Tide with 70 points coming from players off the bench. Allie Craig Cruce led Alabama with eight of the team’s 44 rebounds and added seven points. Cruce added seven points to her totals.

“We got a lot of people minutes and I thought that was quality,” Curry said. “It’s always a positive to shoot perfect from the free throw line.”

Alabama opens its regular season on Nov. 6 at 7 p.m. against Hampton.