Alabama Begins SEC Tournament Play with Win Over Missouri

Photo by Hannah Saad from The Crimson White

By Austin Hannon

By Austin Hannon

Five different players on the Crimson Tide scored double digits in Alabama’s 82-74 win over the Missouri Tigers in the annual SEC Women’s basketball tournament in Greenville, South Carolina.

The starting five for the Crimson Tide was key in the victory, scoring 79 of the team’s 82 to advance the Crimson Tide to the quarterfinals on Friday.

Alabama jumped out to a big lead in the first quarter, making their first eight attempts, and lead the Tigers 28-18 at the end of the first. The second quarter was a different story, as Missouri began to shoot the ball well and get themselves back into the game, only trailing by six at the break.

Missouri eventually led late in the third quarter, but a big fourth from the Tide finished off the Tigers in what was most likely their final game of the season.

Ariyah Copeland once again led the way for the Crimson Tide, scoring 22 points and grabbing 10 rebounds, to cap off her 10^th double-double of the season. Megan Abrams added 19, Jordan Lewis with 16, and Hannah Barber and Jasmine Walker both finished with 11. The Tide were able to get to the free-throw line at will, getting there 30 times, which was the third time this season Alabama has done so in a game.

The Lady Crimson Tide will face powerhouse South Carolina on Friday night at 5:00 CT on the SEC Network. A win in that game will set up a matchup with either Ole Miss or Tennessee on Saturday night. South Carolina has already defeated Alabama twice this season, by a combined 41 points. However, this win most likely locked in a place for the Crimson Tide in the NCAA Tournament, which will be its first appearance in over 20 years.