We love ‘Bama women’s basketball coach Kristy Curry at THMB — she runs a clean ship, doesn’t lose bad games, is a pleasure to have as the face of the program, is competitive in a cutthroat SEC, and makes the NCAA tournament more often than not. Given how poorly Greg Byrne and crew have resourced Women’s athletics at Alabama, she has a tall task, and has performed admirably.
However, what had always been missing from her great decade-long resume was that one feather in her cap, that signature win. Her ‘Bama team did knock off Tennessee several years ago, but that was following the loss of Pat Summitt and the Vols weren’t all the way back yet.
But still, she needed a valedictory. Last night in Coleman Coliseum it arrived, as one of the nicest people in the business hosted the No. 7 LSU Tigers and of the most venomous figures in sports: the histrionic Kim Mulkey.
The No. 20/20 Alabama women’s basketball team led for more than 40 minutes before needing overtime to hold off No. 7/7 LSU, 88-85, Thursday night in front of a raucous crowd inside Coleman Coliseum. Aaliyah Nye (28) and Sarah Ashlee Barker (21) combined to score 49 points to lead the Crimson Tide to its 23rd win of the season and 10th SEC victory.
Alabama (23-6, 10-5 SEC) was in control throughout a majority of the contest, leading for over 40 minutes compared to LSU (27-3, 12-3) who owned the lead for just 23 seconds. Despite the Crimson Tide’s effort, the Tigers clawed back from a 10-point deficit (67-57) in regulation and outscored UA 22-12 over the final 8:25 to force overtime at 79-apiece.
In the overtime, despite losing Nye and Barker who both fouled out, Alabama outscored LSU 9-6 behind Zaay Green dropping five of her 15 points in the extra period. Essence Cody also finished in double figures with 17 points on the night to go along with six boards and five blocked shots. Karly Weathers added a team-leading nine rebounds to go with three assists and two steals.
Mikaylah Williams finished with 22 points to lead LSU, while Aneesah Morrow added 16 and a team-high nine rebounds.
It was not easy. ‘Bama raced out to a big lead, then let the Tigers claw back in it to force overtime, and then lost their best player to foul trouble — on top of some downright terrible officiating against both squads that led to a halting game without much rhythm.
To her credit, afterwards Mulkey was all class: she didn’t fault the officials other than to state the obvious. It sucked for everyone out there, and she flat-out said ‘Bama deserved to win, the Tigers did not.
For Curry, it’s a signature moment with her best team to date, and Alabama is certainly trending the right direction heading into March. We couldn’t be happier for her or the program.
Roll Tide.
