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The Official Website of the Southeastern Conference
The Sandy and John Black Pavilion at Ole Miss - Oxford, MS

Second half surge sends Alabama past Ole Miss

132 days ago
Alabama Athletics
Photo: Alabama Athletics

OXFORD, Miss. - The Alabama women's basketball team outlasted the Ole Miss Rebels on Sunday, taking a 63-58 road win in SJB Pavilion.

The Crimson Tide was playing without its two leading point scorers, Brittany Davis and Megan Abrams, who both suffered injuries against Auburn on Jan. 8. After trailing by eight points at the end of the first quarter (17-9), Alabama battled back to make it a one-possession game heading into halftime (27-25). UA would outscore the Rebels 38-31 in the second half to take a five-point victory on the road.

Alabama (14-4, 3-2 SEC) had three players in double digits as Sarah Ashlee Barker paced the Tide with 16 points, five boards, three assists and two steals. Loyal McQueen scored 14 points in the game, in addition to tallying three boards, three assists and two steals, while Jada Rice recorded an 11-point, 11-rebound double-double. Rice also tallied three blocks in the game.

Ole Miss (16-3, 5-1 SEC) was led by a 16-point, four-rebound performance from Destiny Salary. Angel Baker recorded 12 points, six boards and two steals, while Madison Scott had 11 points, 14 rebounds and three assists in the loss.

Alabama Head Coach Kristy Curry Said

"Really special win today. We were facing adversity. Just amazing toughness. That was the difference in the game, just the toughness of getting stops, critical boards and being able to make a few free throws, just big plays all night long. I just thought our kids showed a lot of grittiness of sticking to the game plan. Couldn't be prouder. We will enjoy this until midnight, and then we'll hit the reset button. But just a huge resume win for us on the road without our two leading scorers."

Game Stats

  • Rice recorded her first double-double performance of the season with 11-points and 11 rebounds in the game
  • Rice posted a season-high 11 boards in the game, recording her second consecutive game in double figures in the category
  • Alabama's win snapped a nine-game winning streak for Ole Miss and was the Rebels' first loss in conference play this season
  • The Rebels were also 10-0 at home prior to the game
  • UA shot 35.8 percent from the floor and 38.5 percent from beyond the arc
  • Ole Miss was 32.8 percent from the field and just 27.8 percent from distance

How It Happened

  • A three-point play by Barker gave the Tide an early lead, 4-2, but six unanswered points move the Rebels out to an 8-4 advantage by the first media timeout (4:52)
  • Ole Miss would close the quarter with a 9-3 run to lead by eight points (17-9)
  • Seven straight points by Barker made it a four-point game (22-18) with 4:47 to play in the half
  • UA would outscore Ole Miss 7-5 over the final 5:40 to trail 27-25 heading into the break
  • Barker paced the half, recording 10 points, three boards and one steal
  • Ryan Cobbins and Rice pulled down four boards apiece
  • Alabama shot 25.9 percent from the floor and 28.6 percent from distance, while Ole Miss was 30.3 percent from the floor and 30.0 percent from beyond the arc
  • A hot start to the third quarter move UA ahead 36-30 (4:46) thanks to a 11-0 run by the Tide
  • Alabama would hold the lead, heading into the final stanza leading 40-35
  • A 10-5 start gave UA its first double-digit advantage (50-40) forcing Ole Miss to take a timeout (5:37)
  • Back-to-back baskets by the Rebels coming out of the timeout made it a six-point game (50-44) with 3:42 on the clock
  • Moments later, a three pointer and layup from Aaliyah Nye would push the lead back out to eight (57-49) with a little over a minute to play
  • Hannah Barber would go 4-of-4 from the charity strip over the final 14 seconds to keep Alabama in the lead and give the Tide the five-point victory

Up Next

Alabama returns home to host Texas A&M on Thursday in a 6 p.m. CT contest on SEC Network+.