No. 18 Alabama women’s basketball lost 84-40 on the road Thursday against No. 5 Texas, the team’s first SEC loss of the season.
“You just have to credit Texas. It was one of those nights, those career nights, where everything went their way,” Alabama head coach Kristy Curry said.
Texas eliminated Alabama from last season’s NCAA Tournament, so this first-time SEC matchup was highly anticipated, but the Crimson Tide was again without guard Sarah Ashlee Barker.
Barker’s injury status is still considered day-to-day by the Alabama athletic training staff. This is the second game she has missed, so sophomore guard Diana Collins made her second start of the year.
Alabama managed to defend home court without Barker against Missouri last Sunday, but her absence was felt from the opening tip against Texas.
The Longhorns started the game in spectacular fashion, going on a 14-0 run.
Alabama did not score a bucket until halfway through the opening frame. Guard Zaay Green made a 3-pointer to end the scoring drought, and it was one of the few triples the Crimson Tide hit. Texas added another 15 points to conclude the quarter leading 29-7.
The turnover battle was lopsided, as Alabama coughed up the basketball nine times in the first quarter, and things did not get better in the second.
In the second quarter, the Crimson Tide shot 4/17 from the field. Texas slowed down offensively, scoring only 12 points, but the SEC newcomers still held a 25-point lead over the Crimson Tide at halftime. Guard Karly Weathers led Alabama in scoring with 7 points at the half and finished the game as the team’s leading scorer with the same amount of points.
Texas found an even higher gear in the third quarter, scoring 26 points to Alabama’s 9. To complete the cycle, the Longhorns also outscored the Crimson Tide in the fourth quarter 17-15.
“We tried to stay positive and continue to play the next play. On a night like tonight, things just didn’t go our way,” Curry said.
The Crimson Tide struggled from 3-point range all night, shooting 17.4%, and the Longhorns won the rebounding and turnover battle by double figures.
Forward Madison Booker led Texas in the scoring column with 21 points and grabbed five rebounds.
With the loss, Alabama moves to 15-2 on the season and 2-1 in the SEC.
“I’ve learned in this league that you have to have a short-term memory, whether it is a positive or negative experience,” Curry said. “That shows toughness and grit, something that we pride ourselves on.”