Alabama Women’s Basketball Triumphs Over Mississippi State
In a thrilling matchup on Sunday, the No. 23 Alabama women’s basketball team overcame Mississippi State with an 85-78 victory, largely thanks to standout performances from Jessica Timmons and Karly Weathers. Timmons achieved a personal best by scoring 28 points, including crucial contributions during the final quarter, while Weathers notched 11 of her 13 points in the same period.
Game Highlights
The Crimson Tide entered the third quarter with momentum but found themselves trailing after Mississippi State executed a perfect sequence, scoring six consecutive shots, four of which came from Jaylah Lampley, allowing the Bulldogs to lead 60-56 at the start of the last quarter. Timmons was pivotal during the third, scoring 11 points and helping Alabama establish an eight-point cushion with just over three minutes remaining in the period.
As the fourth quarter unfolded, Alabama showcased resilience with three lead changes. The critical moment came when Weathers scored a layup followed by a 3-pointer, and Timmons executed a three-point play, solidifying the lead. As Mississippi State attempted a comeback, cutting Alabama’s lead to four points at 74-70, another shot from beyond the arc by Weathers widened the gap to seven points with two minutes left on the clock.
Key Contributions
Contributions from Diana Collins, who scored 15 points, and Naomi Jones and Ace Austin with 10 points each, bolstered Alabama’s performance. Conversely, Mississippi State’s Favour Nwaedozi led her team with 19 points, supported offensively by Madison Francis with 16 points, Lampley with 14, and Trayanna Crisp with 11. Francis also distinguished herself defensively with eight rebounds and seven steals.
First Half Overview
Alabama started strong, hitting four 3-pointers in the first quarter to take a slim lead of 15-14, and carried that energy into the second, closing the half ahead at 35-31. The Tide demonstrated superior free-throw shooting, converting 20 of 24 attempts compared to Mississippi State’s 18 of 21.
Looking Ahead
Next up, Alabama (18-3, 4-3 SEC) heads to Georgia, while Mississippi State (15-6, 2-5 SEC) prepares to challenge No. 17 Tennessee on Thursday. This win is a significant boost for Alabama as they aim to rise in the rankings while Mississippi State seeks recovery from a difficult stretch in conference play.
