Alabama Women’s Basketball Triumphs in SEC Tournament
In an impressive display during the SEC Tournament, the Alabama women’s basketball team secured a convincing 65-48 victory over Missouri in the opening round. Ace Austin showcased her talent, contributing all of her 14 points in the decisive fourth quarter, leading her team to victory and halting a recent slide that saw Alabama lose five out of six games leading up to this matchup. This win marks Alabama’s first in the conference tournament since 2022, improving their record to 22-9 and granting them a second-round clash against the sixth-seeded Tennessee on Thursday.
Fourth Quarter Surge
The game shifted significantly in the fourth quarter when Austin orchestrated a surge, hitting four three-pointers that fueled a 12-2 run, extending Alabama’s lead to 14 points with just over six minutes left on the clock. Despite attempts to close the gap, Missouri could not mount a comeback. Other notable performers for Alabama included Diana Collins, who chipped in 13 points, while Ta’Mia Scott contributed 12 points along with three blocks. Essence Cody rounded out the scoring with 10 points. Even though Karly Weathers had a tough shooting night, going just 1-of-9 from the field and 1-of-8 from beyond the arc, she made an impact on the boards, collecting a career-high 16 rebounds while also providing six assists, two steals, and a block.
Missouri’s Struggles
On the other side, the Missouri Tigers, now with a 16-16 season record, have entered a worrying phase, suffering their sixth consecutive defeat. Jordana Reisma was the standout for Missouri, netting 15 points on an efficient 7-of-8 shooting, while Grace Slaughter accrued 11 points and matched that total in rebounds. However, the Tigers struggled significantly in the first half, shooting only 25% from the field and committing more turnovers (eight) than they registered made field goals (seven), resulting in a mere 20 points at halftime – their lowest scoring period of the season. Alabama also struggled but managed a 31-20 lead at the break, shooting 32% from the field and securing 10 assists.
Historical Context
Historically, Alabama holds the advantage in their series against Missouri at 12 wins to 9, including a 2-1 record in neutral-site games.
As Alabama moves forward, Missouri’s season has come to an end.
