After falling to the Tulane Green Wave on Sunday, the Alabama women’s basketball team got back in the win column and defeated the Southern Mississippi Lady Eagles 86-54 Wednesday night.

It wasn’t the typical start for Alabama. After jumping out to hot starts and early leads against Alabama-Huntsville, Charleston Southern and Tulane, the Crimson Tide found themselves in a 6-0 hole. 

It took a bit, but the Crimson Tide got into a rhythm. 

A 3-pointer from senior guard Hannah Barber cut the Lady Eagles’ lead to three points. Alabama soon took a 10-6 lead with just under five minutes left in the first quarter. 

The last five minutes of the first quarter was a back-and-forth affair, with each team taking control of the lead. Alabama, however, finished the first quarter 21-16. 

The second quarter was a lot tighter. Alabama shot better from two-point range, making seven of 18 attempts. However, the Crimson Tide missed every three-point attempt. 

The Lady Eagles had more defensive rebounds and second-chance points than the Crimson Tide. Southern Mississippi also outscored Alabama 17-16 in the second quarter. 

Despite this, the Crimson Tide held onto the lead at halftime. Alabama was up 37-31 against the Lady Eagles. 

Alabama head coach Kristy Curry shared her thoughts on the first half. 

“I didn’t like the first half,” Curry said. “I don’t think anyone thought I did.” 

Much to Curry’s — and the fans’ — delight, the Crimson Tide played a cleaner second half of basketball. 

Alabama came out more energetic in the third quarter, fueled by transition play and costly mistakes from the Lady Eagles. Southern Mississippi had three turnovers in the third quarter, Which Alabama capitalized off of, scoring seven points. 

The Crimson Tide also frustrated the Lady Eagles in transition, scoring nine fastbreak points. 

The energy from the team in the third transferred to the crowd. “Joye is angry” chants came from the Alabama pep band as Southern Mississippi head coach Joye Lee-McNelis showed her displeasure with her team’s drop in performance. 

Alabama finished the third quarter on a 7-0 run and outscored the Lady Eagles 19-6. The Crimson Tide led 56-39 with ten minutes left in regulation — their largest lead of the game. 

The third quarter effort from Alabama was too much for Southern Mississippi to overcome. 

The Crimson Tide continued to apply the pressure. Alabama started the fourth quarter on a 10-4 run, forcing yet another timeout from Southern Mississippi. 

Alabama shot 73.3% from the field in the fourth quarter. 

That shooting percentage led to four different Alabama players finishing Wednesday’s game with double digit points: guards JaMya Mingo-Young, Brittany Davis and Hannah Barber and center Jada Rice. 

Mingo-Young and Davis finished the game with double-doubles. Mingo-Young led the team in points and rebounds with 12 of each. Davis led the team in scoring with 23 points and an added 11 rebounds. 

It was Mingo-Young’s first career double-double. 

“[It] took three years, but I got it,” Mingo-Young said. 

On Nov. 21, Alabama will travel to Fort Worth, Texas, to play in the Maggie Dixon Classic. The Crimson Tide will face Duke at 1 p.m. CT.