by COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The Alabama women’s basketball team outlasted Texas A&M, 78-71, in the final regular season contest Sunday afternoon in Reed Arena. With the win, the Crimson Tide finishes the regular season with a 23-8 overall record and a 10-6 record in SEC play to secure the No. 4 seed and a double-bye in the 2024 Southeastern Conference Women’s Basketball Tournament.
Sarah Ashlee Barker led all scorers with 29 points, including 10 fourth-quarter points, to lead four players in double figures. Aaliyah Nye finished with 13 points, while Loyal McQueen and Jessica Timmons added 11 apiece in the victory.
Texas A&M (18-10, 6-9 SEC) was led by Aicha Coulibaly’s 19 points, five rebounds and five assists in the losing effort.
How It Happened
- Alabama shot 9-16 from the floor, while Texas A&M shot 9-17 to end the first quarter 22-21 in the Tide’s favor
- Sarah Ashlee Barker led the Tide with nine points and two rebounds during the first 10 minutes
- Alabama went on a 15-2 run over a 5:26 span to take control of the game at the start of the second quarter, taking a 39-23 lead
- The Tide held the Aggies to just 10 points during the second quarter to enter the locker rooms in the lead, 43-31
- Texas A&M outscored the Crimson Tide, 16-12, in the third frame to trim its deficit to eight points
- The Aggies ended the third quarter on a 6-0 run while holding the Tide to 5-18 shooting in the period
- A&M’s scoring run continued into the fourth quarter, outscoring the Tide, 16-6, over the first six minutes of the quarter to take the lead, 63-61
- Barker scored five-unanswered points to put the Crimson Tide back in front, 66-63, and force the Aggies to use a timeout
- Jessica Timmons converted an and-one opportunity with 43 seconds to play, extending Alabama’s lead to seven points
- Alabama connected on six consecutive free throws over the final 28 seconds of play to seal the game
- The Tide ended the contest on a 19-10 run to secure the victory
