Alabama
18-3,4-3SEC
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Mississippi State
15-6,2-5SEC
Jessica Timmons’ Career-High 28 Points Propels Alabama Past Mississippi State, 85-78
1/25/2026 7:30:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Timmons was one of five Crimson Tide players to finish in double digits which aided in UA’s 18th win of the season
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – In a game that saw 18 lead changes and 10 ties, Alabama women's basketball team outlasted Mississippi State, 85-79, Sunday inside Coleman Coliseum. The Crimson Tide (18-3, 4-3 SEC) earned its 18th victory overall and fourth in Southeastern Conference play.
Five UA players finished in double-figures as Jessica Timmons led Alabama with a career-high 28 points, as she shot 3-for-6 (50 percent) from deep and 11-for-11 (100 percent) from the free throw line. Diana Collins (15), Karly Weathers (13), Ace Austin (10) and Naomi Jones (10) rounded out the Tide's top scorers.
Jones paced Alabama in the plus-minus category, finishing plus 23 with 10 points, four rebounds and six blocks in her 22 minutes of action. Austin (6), Collins (6) and Weathers (5) combined for 17 of Alabama's 30 total rebounds, while Weathers added five steals to her stat line.
Mississippi State (15-6, 2-5 SEC) was led by Favour Nwaedozi with 19 points and seven rebounds.
Head Coach Kristy Curry Comments
"I really appreciate our crowd coming out on a really bad weather day. So to everyone that came out, it was amazing – even the Mississippi State fans that came over. Just safe travels to everybody getting back home.
"That was a huge win that can be a separator a little bit. I think they had a NET ranking of 34 and us at 30. They're an NCAA Tournament team. They're really good. They're dominant on the glass and in transition, and they are so big. That's just a huge resume win for us today against a good team."
Game Notes
- With 18 lead changes, Alabama held possession of the game for 22:54, while Mississippi State only held its lead for 13:01
- Jessica Timmons earned a career-high 28 points during Alabama's win and tallied her 12th game this season shooting 100 percent from the free throw line (11-for-11)
- Naomi Jones' scored her fifth game in double digits (10) and tied her career-high blocked shots (6)
- Essence Cody made her way back to the court for the first time since Jan. 8, finishing with five points and a pair of rebounds in 15 minutes of play
- Alabama shot 26-of-50 (52 percent) from the floor, 13-of-21 (62 percent) from deep and 20-of-24 (83 percent) from the free throw line
- In comparison, Mississippi State shot 28-of-62 (45 percent) from the floor, 4-of-16 (25 percent) from the three-point line and 18-of-21 (86 percent) from the free throw line
How it Happened
- The Crimson Tide opened the game on an 8-0 run following back-to-back three-pointers from Ta'Mia Scott and Diana Collins
- With just under four minutes remaining in the first quarter, Mississippi State held a one-point lead, until Essence Cody hit a three-pointer allowing Alabama to build momentum and maintain the advantage for the remainder of the stanza (15-14)
- The Crimson Tide and Bulldogs battled for the first four minutes of the second quarter with six lead changes until State pulled ahead off two free throws (21-20)
- With a three-pointer from Jessica Timmons, Alabama was able to bridge the score gap with just three minutes left in the second quarter (25-25)
- Alabama maintained the lead for the remainder of the quarter, finishing the half ahead four points (35-31)
- State quickly took the lead within the first minute and a half of the third quarter, but a layup and three-pointer from Jessica Timmons reestablished Alabama's control halfway through the third
- Alabama went on a 9-0 run but Mississippi battled back to take the lead with a three-pointer with just under two minutes left in the third quarter as the Bulldogs went into the final stanza with a 60-56 advantage
- The Tide managed to take the lead for the final time, going on an 8-0 run in the second half of the fourth quarter (74-66)
- Following two free throws and a layup by the Bulldogs, Karly Weathers scored a three-pointer with just two minutes remaining to push the Tide's lead back out to seven points (77-70)
- UA and MSU would score eight points apiece in the final two minutes of the game, but Alabama's advantage held in the final stanza to earn the victory (85-78)
Up Next
- Alabama will travel to Athens, Ga., to take on the Georgia Bulldogs on Thursday, Jan. 30
- Tip off between the Tide and Bulldogs is set for 5:30 p.m. CT on SEC Network
