Alabama Spoils Joni Taylor's Homecoming, Beats Texas A&M, 61-46

Brittany Davis' return to the lineup helped sparked the Crimson Tide to a key SEC victory.

The Alabama Crimson Tide improved to 15-4 and 4-2 in the Southeastern Conference as it beat visiting Texas A&M 61-46 inside Coleman Coliseum on Thursday night.

While it was certainty not Alabama's best game on offense, the return of Brittany Davis to the Crimson Tide lineup gave a spark that was needed/

"[Texas A&M] played hard, they're about to get someone, thankfully it wasn't us...we made enough plays," Crimson Tide head coach Kristy Curry said.

Davis had 14 points on 4-for-11 shooting in 27 minutes after she missed the Ole Miss game this past Sunday with an injury.

The Crimson Tide defense limited the Aggies to just 35 percent shooting from the field, and 18 percent from 3-point range. 

Sarah Ashlee Barker put up a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds, coming off of a season-high 16 points against Ole Miss. Hannah Barber also scored a career-high 14 points in 36 minutes.

"We always say, your will has to be stronger than your skill. I love who this team is trying to be, they're playing for each other," Curry said.

Alabama will host #3 LSU on Monday.

How it Happened:

Fourth Quarter:

• Final: Alabama wins 61-46.

• One minute left, Alabama leads 59-46. Not their prettiest game but they will get the job done.

• Barker goes 1/2 from the line, A&M quickly responds with a basket. 58-46 Alabama with 1:33 left.

• Sarah Ashlee Barker goes to the line as Alabama enters the bonus.

• Officials reverse the call. Still 57-44 with 2:30 left.

• Karly Weather makes a layup as the shot clock expires, the shot is under review however. 59-44 Alabama if it stands.

• The Aggies go 1/2 from the line. 57-44 Alabama.

• Media Timeout with 4:09 left in the game. 57-43 Alabama, as A&M will shoot free throws.

• Both teams heating up on offense, 55-39 Alabama leads it with 6:10 left in the game.

• Davis makes both to push the lead to 17 

• Brittany Davis going to the line with Alabama up 49-34, 7:50 left.

• Jada Rice opens the quarter with a layup off a nice assist from Karly Weathers. 47-34 Alabama with 9:16 left.

Third Quarter:

• End of the quarter: Alabama leads 45-34. Rough quarter offensively for both teams means Alabama maintain an 11 point lead.

• Ryan Cobbins and Brittany Davis make layups to stop the drought. 43-29 Alabama with 1:22 left. 

• 2:30 left in the quarter, both teams are in major scoring droughts lasting over 5 minutes.

• Media timeout with 4:37 left. Still 39-29, a big difference in the game has been the three-point shot, Alabama is 6/12 from three, as the Aggies are just 2/12

• Texas A&M misses both free throws, still 39-29 with 5:50 left in the quarter.

• Foul on Jada Rice as Alabama is up 39-29 with the Aggies at the line.

• Texas A&M opens the half with a three. 35-27 with 9 minutes left 

Second Quarter:

• Hannah Barber with a pair of last second free-throws. 35-24 Alabama at the half.

• Both teams have been trading baskets throughout the quarter. 30-22 Alabama with 1:37 left in the half. 

• Texas A&M with a pair of free throws, 28-19 Alabama with under 4 minutes left.

• Media timeout: 28-17 Alabama with 4:21 left. Texas A&M has made just one of their last eight field-goals.

• Aaliyah Nye breaks the scoring drought with a three, followed by a Brittany Davis steal, and a Sarah Ashlee Barker layup. 28-15 Crimson Tide with 5:40 left

• Alabama has gone 2 minutes without a basket, 23-15 Alabama with 7:43 left in the half.

• Brittany Davis starts the quarter off with layup. 23-10 with 9:30 left. 

First Quarter: 

• End of the first quarter: Alabama leads 21-10. Team effort from the Crimson Tide on offense, with 5 of the 7 players scoring so far.

• Ryan Cobbins makes a tough and-one layup. 17-6 Alabama with under 4 minutes left in the quarter

• Timeout Texas A&M with 5:59 left, it's 12-2 Alabama. Aggies with 5 turnovers already.

• Alabama has already forced four turnovers in under four minutes. Brittany Davis with 5 early points. 6-2 Alabama with 6:30 left.

• Sarah Ashlee Barker forces a turnover, gets fouled, and makes one of her free throws. 1-0 Alabama with 8:53 left. 

Pregame:

• Another injury note: Megan Abrams is not in uniform as she is still recovering from am injury suffered against Auburn.

• Alabama Starting Five:
• Hannah Barber
• Sarah Ashlee Barker
• Brittany Davis
• Jada Rice
• Aaliyah Nye 

• Brittany Davis is participating in warmups for Alabama, with about 20 minutes to go until tip-off.

• Officials for tonight game are:  Roy Gulbeyan, Paualani Spurlock-Welsh, and Frank Steratore

• The game will tip off at 6:00 on the SEC Network+