Alabama Women’s Basketball Season Comes to an End in Maryland

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The Alabama women's basketball season concluded with a loss to the Maryland Terrapins. The Terrapins rallied from a 17-point deficit to defeat the Crimson Tide. Although Sarah Ashlee Barker delivered a remarkable performance with 45 points, it wasn't sufficient to secure a victory.

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Both teams came out with relentless determination, vying for a spot in the Sweet 16 and showing no signs of backing down. The Terrapins took possession to start the first quarter and quickly capitalized, sinking a 3-pointer off a rebound. The Crimson Tide responded with a layup, setting the stage for a back-to-back battle that ended in a 6-6 tie with eight minutes remaining. The Crimson Tide then hit three consecutive shots, beginning to build momentum offensively. With 6:35 remaining, the score was knotted at 8-8, signaling an early strategic showdown to see who would make the first significant adjustments. By this point, four of five starters had contributed to the scoring for both teams, and with just under six minutes to play, the Terrapins held a narrow 10-8 lead. With less than five minutes remaining, Barker drained a 3-pointer to give the Crimson Tide a 12-11 edge. Aaliyah Nye then tied it up with one of two free throws at the 4:33 mark. The Terrapins briefly pulled ahead by two points, but Karly Weathers quickly answered with a layup. As the clock ticked down under two minutes, the Terrapins began to establish themselves, taking a 17-12 lead and sending the Crimson Tide into a scoring drought. The Crimson Tide were able to break the drought and close out the quarter trailing by four points (19-15).

The second quarter was just as thrilling. The Terrapins started strong, with Shyanne Sellers hitting a 3-pointer off a rebound. Zaay Green answered with a quick layup, making it 22-17. Both teams played aggressively, combing for 11 points in the first minute of the quarter. By 8:17, Essence Cody narrowed the gap to 27-22. After a steal allowed Kaylene Smikle to score, the Crimson Tide then called a timeout as the Terrapins pushed their lead to 31-21. Trailing by 10 points, the timeout proved pivotal for the Crimson Tide, who quickly responded. With less than six minutes to play, Barker hit two consecutive baskets, cutting the lead to 33-27 and forcing the Terrapins to call a timeout. Out of the break, a turnover led to a Diana Collins layup, sparking a 6-0 run that made it a 33-29 game. With four minutes remaining in the half, the game was tied at 33-33. The Terrapins regained the lead with a pair of free throws, but Barker swiftly answered with a 3-pointer, putting the Crimson Tide back in front. After a slow start to the quarter, Kristy Curry's squad fought back. At 1:42, Nye tied the game again with two free throws (39-39). She then returned to the line with 22.7 seconds remaining, sinking one of two to give the Crimson Tide a 41-39 lead at halftime.

The second half erupted with Kaylene Smikle kicking things off, tying the score at 41-41, Green quickly responded, calmly finishing a layup to put her team back on top, 43-41. Nye then drilled a 3-pointer after an offensive rebound, and moments later, Barker added to the momentum with a crucial bucket. The Terrapins weren't knocking down. Sellers got her first points of the third quarter, cutting the lead to 48-43. The Terrapins seemed to gain some rhythm, as Smikle made it a one-possession game under seven minutes remaining, 48-45. Yet, Green kept the crowd quiet with another clutch layup to give the Crimson Tide a 50-45 lead. With 5:30 left, Weathers drained a transition three to extend the Crimson Tide's lead to 53-45, and the momentum was firmly on their side. With under five minutes remaining, Cody joined the 3-point party, pushing the Crimson Tide up by 11, 56-45. The onslaught continued as Barker hit back-to-back 3-pointers, forcing the Terrapins to call a timeout. Out of the break, Nye nailed another 3-pointer, extending the lead to 62-45, while the Crimson Tide's offensive surge seemed unstoppable. In the final minutes of the quarter, Green drew her fourth foul, and Collins stepped in to fill the gap. Despite a late rally from the Terrapins, cutting the score to 52-50, Collins answered with a quick basket, keeping the Crimson Tide firmly in control at 64-50. The quarter closed with the Crimson Tide ahead, 64-55.

The fourth quarter started with Cody powering through for a layup and a free throw, keeping the Crimson Tide on top. The offensive battle continued with both teams refusing to back down. The score was 73-65 with just under seven minutes remaining, and the energy in the XFINITY CENTER was electric as both sides traded 3-pointers. With the game hanging in the balance, the Terrapins pulled within five, 74-69, but Green answered with a layup, pushing the Crimson Tide lead to 76-69. The Terrapins then became relentless. Sellers clutch basket made it a four-point game, 76-72, but Barker answered with a strong drive to the rim, bringing the score to 78-72. Barker's 28-point performance was keeping the Crimson Tide in control. However, Sellers kept fighting, trimming the lead to 78-74, and a crucial turnover and a foul on Green allowed the Terrapins to add two free throws making it a two-point game, 78-76, with just under three minutes remaining and the Crimson Tide down a player (Green).

With the clock winding down and the Terrapins trailing by two, Sellers had a chance to tie it at the line- and she did. The game was knotted  at 78-78, and the crowd was on edge. With 30 seconds to go, Barker once again played the hero, draining a clutch 3-pointer to push the Crimson Tide back to a 81-78 lead. However, the Terrapins weren't done yet. With 12 seconds left, Sarah Te-Biasu drilled a game-tying three, sending the game into overtime at 83-83.

In a thrilling overtime showdown, both teams were deadlocked at 85-85 with three and a half minutes remaining. The Terrapins edged ahead 88-87 with 3:19 on the clock, but Weathers answered for the Crimson Tide, bringing the game back to a one-point margin. As the final minute ticked down, the Crimson Tide trailed by three, 96-93. Then, with the game hanging on by a thread, Barker was fouled while attempting a 3-pointer. With 0.7 seconds left on the clock, she stepped to the free-throw line and calmly sank all three attempts, securing a career-high 37 points and sending the game into a second overtime.

The second overtime period was just as intense. The Terrapins hitting 101 points and taking a 101-96 lead with under four minutes to go, it seemed like the Crimson Tide might be on the ropes. However, Collins wasn't ready to back down, slicing the lead to just three with a layup to make it 101-98. The Terrapins answered with a quick bucket, pushing the score to 103-98. At 2:17, Cody was fouled and sent to the line, knocking down two free throws to bring the Crimson Tide to 100 points, 103-100.

The Terrapins, however, held their ground and extended the lead. Barker, who was having a career night, wasn't done yet. With 1:20 left, she scored again, putting the Crimson Tide within striking distance at 106-102 and pushing her point total to 41. With just 28 seconds left, Barker added another bucket, bringing her to 43 points, keeping the Crimson Tide in the fight (108-106). Despite her heroic efforts, the Terrapins were too strong to hold off, closing out the game with a 111-108 victory in a heart-stopping finish.

Game Notes via Anna Nobles (Alabama Women's Basketball SID):

• Alabama concludes the season with a 24-9 overall record, its fourth consecutive 20-win season and fourth time in the last five years the Crimson Tide has reached the NCAA Tournament
• The double overtime contest featured 12 ties and six lead changes
• Sarah Ashlee Barker’s 45-point total was the most points scored by any player in the NCAA Tournament since Ohio State’s Kelsey Mitchell who had 45 vs. West Virginia on March 20, 2016
• Barker topped four Alabama players who reached double figures and finished with eight rebounds and three steals
• Essence Cody added 18 points, five rebounds and five steals, while Zaay Green and Aaliyah Nye both had 11
• Maryland outrebounded Alabama 46-37, including owning a 23-14 edge on the offensive glass which resulted in the Terrapins owning a 22-12 advantage in second chance points
• Alabama outscored Maryland inside the paint, 60-38
• The Tide finished the night with 21 assists, led by Karly Weathers’ six helpers to go with nine points and five boards
• Alabama shot 54 percent from the floor (40-of-74), 42 percent from deep (11-of-26) and 69 percent from the line (20-of-29)
• In comparison, Maryand shot 45 percent from the field (37-of-82), 42 percent from three-point range (11-of-26) and 84 percent from the charity stripe (26-of-31)