Sports Editor

The Troy State women’s basketball teams will be looking for its first win of the season as the head to the Capstone to play Alabama Crimson Tide tonight.

Tip-off is at 7 p.m. in Coleman Coliseum.

The Lady Trojans fell in its opener on Sunday night, losing to Chattanooga 72-65. Chaquita Alexander and Jennifer McInnes led the Troy State in scoring, each finishing with 12 points.

TSU head coach Jerry Hester said his team will have to find someway to slow down Alabama’s perimeter game led by junior Beth Vice and point guard Shondra Johnson.

"That’s their strength," said Hester. "They’re a strong outside shooting team and it’s going to depend on how we’re able to handle that. Shondra Johnson is strong at the point for them."

The Crimson Tide also receives added help on the outside from freshmen Katie Sipe.

This will be the first meeting between the two programs since 1994. UA is coached by Rick Moody, himself a graduate of Troy State (1976). In the second meeting that season, Moody guided the Crimson Tide to a 101-66 win over TSU.

Current first-year assistant under Hester, Betsy Harris, was a member of that ’94 Alabama team, which made it to the NCAA Final Four.

Alabama has won the last 11 meetings in the series (14-3 overall).

But right now Hester is more concerned with his own team.

"I’m anxious to see how this team responds to a loss," he said. "I’m not totally disappointed with the way we played on Sunday, but I was concerned with our inside game against Chattanooga. We didn’t get hardly any lay-up’s and I don’t know if it was because they (UC) took that away from us or what."

The Lady Trojans also committed 21 turnovers in the game.

"That’s a concern, but I believe if we can keep it to under 15 in a game, with the type of up-tempo basketball that we play, then we should be fine," said Hester.

Hester was pleased with the play of two freshmen who saw playing time on Sunday.

"We got some good minutes from Heather Kaiser and Kandice Kirk," he said. "Kandice was pleasant surprise, because she wasn’t that good to us in the preseason. She’s a little undersized for the post, (5-11), but she had some bright moments and may be able to provide some depth on the inside."