Alabama
21-6,8-5SEC
Tennessee
20-6,7-6SEC
No. 18/19 Alabama Women’s Basketball Drops Road Contest to No. 15/13 Tennessee, 80-88
2/20/2025 8:23:00 PM | Women's Basketball
The loss moves the Crimson Tide to 21-6 on the season
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - The No. 18/20 Alabama women's basketball team fell to No. 15/13 Tennessee, 88-80 in Knoxville, Tenn., Thursday night. The Crimson Tide moved to 21-6 overall and 8-5 in the Southeastern Conference ahead of Sunday afternoon's matchup versus Auburn in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Sarah Ashlee Barker and Aaliyah Nye recorded milestones during the game as Barker surpassed 1,500 career points and Nye tied the program record for most three-pointers made with 272.
Barker led the Crimson Tide (21-6, 8-5 SEC), scoring 22 points, grabbing six rebounds and dishing five assists. Aaliyah Nye (13 points), Essence Cody (13 points, seven rebounds), Zaay Green (16 points, 5 rebounds) and Karly Weathers (11 points, four steals) all scored in double figures, as Alabama had all five starters score in double digits for the first time in conference play this season.
Jewel Spear led Tennessee (20-6, 7-6 SEC), scoring 20 points and grabbing six rebounds.
Head Coach Kristy Curry Comments
"We just have to do a better job in a couple of areas. We gave up a couple of offensive rebounds that led to kick-out threes. The margin for error is very small. I thought we did a really good job against the press, only having 10 turnovers. We just missed some shots, didn't finish at the rim and gave up too many offensive rebounds. Our kids played so hard and competed, we just weren't able to get enough made shots down the stretch."
Game Notes
- The Crimson Tide's starters (Barker, Cody, Green, Nye and Weathers) all scored in double figures, accounting for 75 of UA's 80 points
- With a trio of three-pointers, Aaliyah Nye tied the Alabama record for most threes made in program history (272)
- Sarah Ashlee Barker hit the 1,500 career points mark after her 22-point performance
- For the seventh time this season, Barker scored 20 or more points in one game
- UA tallied 20 points off 15 Tennessee turnovers
- Alabama shot 43 percent from the floor (30-of-69), 41 percent from deep (11-of-27) and 82 percent from the line (9-of-11)
- In comparison, Tennessee shot 48 percent from the field (32-of-67), 38 percent from three-point range (8-of-21) and 89 percent from the charity stripe (16-of-18)
How it Happened
- Alabama got off to a hot start, scoring 10 points and forcing three turnovers within the first three minutes of action (10-4)
- The Crimson Tide offense continued its fast start, shooting 4-of-9 from three-point range to take a five-point lead at the end of the first quarter (22-17)
- A back-and-forth second quarter featured three lead changes and a pair of 10-0 runs for the Lady Volunteers that gave UT a five-point lead at the half (37-42)
- Tennessee extended its lead to 65-51 during the third, holding Alabama to its lowest-scoring quarter of the night with only 14 points
- The Tide cut the Lady Volunteers' lead to 11 points at the start of the fourth quarter with aid from a layup and back-to-back jumpers (59-70)
- A late 8-2 run brought Alabama within four points (75-79) after the Tide went 6-for-6 from the field to close the Lady Vols' lead late
Up Next
- Alabama will return home Sunday to host in-state rival Auburn and celebrate Senior Day postgame
- Tip off between the Crimson Tide and Tigers is set for 4 p.m. CT on SEC Network
