Alabama
17-4,4-3SEC
Vanderbilt
17-4,4-3SEC
No. 19/19 Alabama Women’s Basketball Falls to RV/RV Vanderbilt 66-64
1/26/2025 4:35:00 PM | Women's Basketball
The Crimson Tide’s two-point loss marks Alabama’s second home loss of the 2024-25 season
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The No.19/19 Alabama women's basketball fell to RV/RV Vanderbilt 66-64, Sunday afternoon in Coleman Coliseum. The loss marks the Crimson Tide's second home loss of the season.
In her first game back after missing five games due to injury, Sarah Ashlee Barker recorded a career-high 36 points while assisting on three shots and nearly recorded a double-double with nine rebounds and tallying four steals to lead Alabama on both sides of the ball. Zaay Green collected seven assists and a pair of steals with Essence Cody adding a steal and two blocks alongside Green.
Mikayla Blakes and Khamil Pierre led Vanderbilt, combining for 45 of the Commodore's 66 points. Blakes scored 33 points to lead Vanderbilt, while Pierre recorded a double-double with 12 points and 14 rebounds.
Head Coach Kristy Curry Comments
"Just disappointed today. I appreciate the great environment and a great group that came out to support us today. We hope they'll be back here next Sunday. The game of basketball can teach us a lot about ourselves and it's always about our response. We have an opportunity to learn a lot from this, but credit a really good Vanderbilt team. I think Shea Ralph is one of the best young coaches in the country. I have great respect for her system and style of play, her integrity and how she goes about it. She is one of my favorite people in the business, and I guess if we couldn't get the win today, at least I'm happy for her because they've worked really hard and did a really good job today. They're playing good basketball with the win over Tennessee and now the win here on the road, so credit to those players. They did a really good job today and I'm just disappointed that we weren't able to make a few plays down the stretch and get a stop or two here and there. We missed a couple of easy baskets late. We just have to finish plays that they were able to and we weren't."
Game Notes
- Sarah Ashlee Barker led all scorers with her career-high 36 points shooting 15-of-21 from the floor (71 percent)
- Alabama tallied an assist on 14 of 27 made field goals throughout the afternoon
- The back-and-forth contest featured a total of eight lead changes which included UA holding the lead at the half before falling behind in the third as Vanderbilt held the Tide to just seven points
- The Tide outscored the Commodores in the paint, 44-30
- Alabama shot 52 percent from the floor (27-of-52), 29 percent from deep (5-of-17) and 86 percent from the line (13-of-17)
- In comparison, Vanderbilt shot 34 percent from the field (23-of-68), 25 percent from three-point range (4-of-16) and 76 percent from the charity stripe (16-of-21)
How It Happened
- Barker set the tone offensively for Alabama to start the game, scoring six points in just over three minutes of action
- Both squads traded baskets through the first seven minutes, but Vanderbilt held the advantage at the first media timeout (15-13)
- The Crimson Tide responded by closing the first quarter on a 5-0 run and claimed the lead at the end of the period (15-19)
- Alabama's lead grew to a six-point margin in the second quarter until the Commodores clawed its way back and took the lead once more with under five minutes remaining in the half (26-25)
- However, Kristy Curry's squad found some traction offensively again as it closed the half on a 9-1 run to retake the lead at the break (27-34)
- Barker surpassed the 20-point mark with 6:27 remaining in the third quarter as Alabama retained its seven-point lead over Vanderbilt
- The Commodores immediately responded with a 12-0 run over the final 4:43 to close out the third quarter and take control once again (44-41)
- Vanderbilt's lead grew to six points before a late offensive surge by the Crimson Tide, led by Barker and Green, cut the Commodore's lead down to one point at the media timeout (57-56)
- After trading baskets for two minutes, a fastbreak layup by Barker tied it up at 60 apiece with two minutes to go
- Vanderbilt proceeded to sink its next four straight attempts from the line, along with a layup to seal the close victory (66-64)
Up Next
- Alabama will travel to Lexington, Ky., on Thursday to take on the Kentucky Wildcats
- The Crimson Tide and Wildcats will tip off at 6 p.m. CT inside Memorial Coliseum
