Alabama Women's Basketball Crushes Mercer 88-52, Improves to 5-2

A strong defensive effort helped Crimson Tide secure second road win of season.

The Alabama Crimson Tide women's basketball team forced 23 turnovers in a win over Mercer, holding the Bears to just 52 points on 38 percent from the field. 

The big numbers offensively came from Aaliyah Nye, who scored 17 points, including five 3s. 

Megan Abrams, Hannah Barber, and Brittany Davis also put up double-digit points in the win, with 14, 11, and 14 points respectfully. 

The Alabama defense kept the pressure up from the beginning, forcing 14 turnovers in the first half, limiting the number of possessions that Mercer had. 

With the win, Alabama moved to 5-2 on the season with its next game being Saturday against Chattanooga at noon CT in Tuscaloosa. 

How it happened:

(most recent updates at the top)

Fourth Quarter 

•  Final: Alabama wins 88-52. A really strong second half by the Tide to seal this one as they move to 5-2 on the year.

• 3:17 left in the game. Alabama up 82-45 as the Tide have controlled this second half.

• Timeout with 6:43 left in the game, 76-40 Alabama. Four Tide players have hit the double digit mark in this game as Brittany Davis and Hannah Barber hit the 10 and 11 point mark.

• Brittany Davis with a layup to get the quarter started, 68-38 Alabama with nine minutes left. 

Third Quarter:

• End of the third: Alabama leads 66-38. Aaliyah Nye with 17 points leads all scorers. Mercer up to 17 turnovers in this game as the Tide's defense has been up to the challenge.

• 1:00 left in the quarter. 66-38 Alabama

• Timeout with 3:50 left in the quarter. Alabama leads 59-35. The combo of Nye and Abrams have scored a combined 31 points for the Tide on a day where Brittany Davis has not been at her best.

• 52-29 Alabama with just over seven minutes left in the quarter. Nye leads all scorers with 17 points with five threes.

• Aaliyah Nye with her fifth three of the night gives Alabama a 46-27 lead as we start the third. 

Second Quarter:

• Halftime: Alabama leads 43-27. Both teams shooting over 40 percent from the field, but 14 Mercer turnovers have been the difference.

• Media timeout with 4:38 left. Crimson Tide ahead 32-19. Brittany Davis leads the Tide with 8 points.

• Both teams trade baskets, 28-17 Alabama with 7:37 left in the half.

First Quarter:

• Call it the announcer's jinx, but a 10-0 run by Mercer cuts the Alabama lead to 26-15 at the end of the quarter. 

• Alabama up 20-6 with 3:13 left in the quarter. The Tide look like the more aggressive team so far, something Coach Kristy Curry has preached all year.

• Alabama out to a 9-0 lead with 6:25 left. Mercer has been unable to break the Alabama pressure on defense.

• Brittany Davis gets the Tide on the board to start. 2-0 Alabama 

Pregame:

•  Note about the starting five: no Sarah Ashlee Barker, who has started the previous four games for the Tide

• Alabama starting five:
• Megan Abrams
• Hannah Barber
• Brittany Davis
• Aaliyah Nye
• Jada Rice