Alabama
13-3,0-1SEC
Ole Miss
11-3,1-0SEC
Alabama Drops SEC Opener to Ole Miss, 55-45
1/4/2024 10:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball
The Crimson Tide falls to 12-3 and 0-1 in the SEC
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The Alabama women's basketball team dropped its Southeastern Conference opener to Ole Miss, 55-45, Thursday night inside Coleman Coliseum.
The home defeat snapped the Crimson Tide's six-game winning streak as the Rebels claimed their third consecutive win in Tuscaloosa.
Alabama (13-3, 0-1 SEC) led early before Ole Miss (11-3, 1-0) used a 19-2 run that spanned more than 10 minutes of the first half to take the lead for good.
The Tide would go on to trail by as many as 14 points with just over four minutes left to play, but went on a late 8-0 spurt, fueled by back-to-back treys from Sarah Ashlee Barker and Jessica Timmons, to claw back into it. However, Alabama could not get any closer than six points before settling for the final result.
The Crimson Tide was led by Sarah Ashlee Barker's 15 points, eight rebounds and two steals in the losing effort. Jessica Timmons hit double figures with 10 points matched Barker for the team lead with eight boards.
The Rebels were led by Rita Igbokwe who finished with eight points, 10 rebounds and five blocked shots.
Head Coach Kristy Curry Postgame Comments
"Credit Ole Miss tonight. They were the aggressor, and we really struggled to come out and match their aggressiveness. I was pleased with how we rebounded the ball; we really matched them on the glass, but we just couldn't find enough buckets on the other end."
Game Stats
- The Tide owned a 12-3 edge in second chance points thanks in large part to grabbing 17 offensive boards
- Alabama shot 29 percent (16-55) from the floor, 33 percent (5-15) from deep and 57 percent (8-14) from the stripe
- In comparison, the Rebels shot 31 percent (18-58) from the field, 79 percent (19-24) from the line and failed to make a three-pointer (0-7)
- Alabama competed on the boards all night, but Ole Miss won the battle, 44-41
- JeAnna Cunningham scored all nine of her points in the second half
- Jessica Timmons scored eight of her 10 points and collected six of her eight rebounds in the second half
- UA outscored Ole Miss 29-28 over the final 20 minutes of play
How It Happened
- Alabama opened the contest going up 7-2 before Ole Miss scored the next 9 points, taking a four-point lead into the second quarter
- After Ole Miss took its largest lead of the half at 12, before the Tide went into the break trailing by 11 points, 27-16
- Sarah Ashlee Barker led UA at the intermission with eight points and seven rebounds
- At the half, the Tide trailed 16-2 in points off turnovers and 12-0 in production off the bench
- Alabama's defense held Ole Miss scoreless over the final three and a half minutes of the third, bringing the Rebels' lead to seven headed into the final frame
- UA allowed an 8-0 run over two and a half minutes, giving Ole Miss the largest lead of the game at 14
- The Tide never gave up and would respond with its own 8-0 spurt, cutting the lead to 51-45 with 1:46 left, but would not score again
Next Up
- Alabama returns Sunday, Jan. 7, taking on Missouri inside Mizzou Arena in Columbia, Mo.
- The Crimson Tide and Tigers will tip at 5 p.m. CT with the game being televised on the SEC Network
For all the latest information on the team, follow @AlabamaWBB on X, Instagram, and Facebook. General athletic news can be found at UA_Athletics on X and Instagram and Alabama Athletics on Facebook.
-UA-
