2009 NATIONAL CHAMPIONS

Denver – The University of Alabama women’s wheelchair basketball team won the Women’s National Championship today in Denver Colorado by defeating the University of Illinois 53-39.

The Tide had to win 4 games in 3 days to secure the National Title starting with a tournament opening win over the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. Alabama went to the half with a 35-31 lead and played every player on the team in the second half in cruising to victory over UWW by a score of 66-43. The Tide shot 50% for the game and was paced in scoring by the trio of Janet McLachlan, Stephanie Wheeler and Tara Feser who scored 30, 10, and 10 points each in the victory.

Next up in the semi-finals for Alabama was 3rd ranked University of Arizona. The Crimson Tide started the game with a suffocating full court press and jumped out to a 36-19 lead at the half. In the second half Alabama led by as much as 28 points while using their bench freely to win by a final score of 53-39. Janet McLachlan, Tara Feser and Stephanie Wheeler scored 18, 14 and 11 points in the victory.

The win against Arizona set up a rematch of last the 2008 National Championship game against top ranked University of Illinois. Alabama got of to a slow start and trailed the Illini by 11-0 to start the game. The Tide did not panic however and climbed back into the game one possession at a time and by halftime Alabama was in the lead for good 25-21. In the second half the Tide handled the Illini full court press to lead by as much as 18 points before closing out Illinois for a 52-36 win. Alabama held Illinois to only 30% shooting for the game while shooting a chilly 42% themselves. Janet McLachlan, Tara Feser and Stephanie Wheeler remained steady for Alabama in scoring 21, 16 and 11 points. The win sent the Illini to the losers bracket of the double elimination tournament and Alabama advanced to the National Championship game for the second year in a row.

The University of Illinois won the final of the losers bracket to set up a re-match of the days previous game as well as a re-match of the 2008 National Championship game in which Alabama lost by 1 point on the Illini home court. Alabama again got off to a slow start against the Illini defense and found themselves behind by as much as 6 points for the first 10 minutes of the game.

The combination of the Alabama defense and clutch shooting allowed the Tide to work their way ahead again however and they were in the lead for good at half-time 27-21. In the second half of the game Alabama methodically broke the Illini full court press again and again only turning the ball over 1 time during the entire game while forcing Illinois to shoot outside on the defensive end. The Crimson Tide shot 43% for the game while holding Illinois to 29% for the game and 25% in the second half. Alabama won their first National Championship in Wheelchair Basketball by a score of 53-39. Janet McLachlan and Stephanie Wheeler led Alabama in scoring again with 24 and 16 points each in the Championship Game and Stephanie Wheeler was named Tournament MVP. After the championship game the team cut down the nets attended the Denver Nuggets game where they were guests in a luxury box suite and were recognized during the game.

The Crimson Tide finished their National Championship Season with a final record of 34-2. The team was undefeated against women’s teams during the year with their only two losses coming to men’s college teams in November to start the season. Alabama went on to avenge both of those losses and reeled off a dominating 27 wins in a row to close the season.

This is only the sixth season for the University of Alabama Wheelchair Athletics program. Alabama is one of 12 Universities in the country that sponsors wheelchair athletics and the only university program in the Southeast United States. For more information about Alabama Wheelchair Athletics, please visit the UAWA website at www.uads.ua.edu or contact UAWA Director, Brent Hardin at 205-348-5109.