Alabama Is a Money Opponent

In addition to Alabama, a formidable enough opponent, UCLA must go up against dollars and cents tonight in the second round of the NCAA tournament.

And the folks forking over the money here pull hard for the Crimson Tide.

Unlike the men’s tournament, women’s games leading to the Final Four are played on the home court of one of the competing teams. Coaches dislike the format, but until the NCAA believes large crowds can be attracted to neutral sites, they must live with it.

“It’s a financial decision,” said Debbie Leonard, former Duke coach of 15 seasons. “I have no problem with the NCAA trying to make money off women’s basketball, but at the same time we’ve worked so hard to get parity, and we lose that with home court advantages.”

Alabama Coach Rick Moody isn’t complaining. Yet. His team has won 30 of its last 31 home games, including all 11 this season.

“Traditionally, our crowd is very vocal,” he said. “I’m looking forward to a competitive matchup where the crowd has a chance to make a difference.”

But the prospect of playing the next two rounds of the Midwest Regional in Lubbock, Texas, home of Texas Tech, changes Moody’s tune.

“It’s all right for the first two games to be at somebody’s home court, but I wish the regional was on a neutral floor,” he said. “The Final Four is supposed to be the best four teams, and it’s tough when there’s a home-court advantage. The NCAA needs to make an adjustment very soon.”

For the Bruins’ part, they are convinced they play just as well in front of a hostile crowd. Their road record is 10-4, same as it is at home.

“The crowd will help us stay in the game,” forward Maylana Martin said. “It will help our intensity. We play better on the road.”

Toppling second-seeded Alabama, which defeated North Carolina Greensboro, 94-46, Friday, will take the Bruins’ best effort. Seventh-seeded UCLA (20-8) played exceptional defense in a 65-58 victory over Michigan, forcing 30 turnovers, but shot only 37.9%.

Defense is also a strength of Alabama (23-9), but its style is more cautious than UCLA’s. The Crimson Tide has allowed opponents to make only 35.6% of their shots.

UCLA had 18 steals against Michigan--the third-highest total in a tournament game--increasing its season total to 334. Point guard Erica Gomez has 67.

“We have perimeter players with quickness, so we like to go for the ball,” UCLA Coach Kathy Olivier said.

Alabama is led by Dominique Canty, a 5-foot-10 junior forward who averages 21.8 points, and 6-2 center Tausha Mills, who averages 12.3 point and 7.2 rebounds.

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Round Two

* What: NCAA Women’s Tournament Midwest Regional.

* Who: UCLA (20-8) vs. Alabama (23-9).

* When: 5:30 p.m. PST today.

* Where: Tuscaloosa, Ala.

* At stake: Winner advances to Midwest Regional in Lubbock, Texas.