Winning back-to-back road games in the SEC is no easy task, and on Thursday night, Alabama’s women’s basketball team ran into a wall wearing orange and blue. The Tide fell to rival Auburn in a gritty, hard-fought matchup where offensive rhythm was elusive from the opening tip.
Alabama got off to a sluggish start, plagued by early turnovers that allowed Auburn to build a lead and control the tempo. From there, it was a game of catch-up - and while the Tide never let things spiral out of reach, they could never quite flip the momentum either.
Auburn’s defense deserves plenty of credit. The Tigers locked in on Alabama’s playmakers, limiting clean looks and forcing tough shots all night. Without Essence Cody anchoring the post - she missed her second straight game with an ankle injury - Alabama lacked its usual interior presence, and it showed.
Jessica Timmons led the Tide with 16 points, but it was a tough night from the field for her, going just 6-of-18. Still, she kept attacking, trying to will her team back into the game. Karly Weathers added 10 points and pulled down 11 rebounds, doing her part on the glass even as the offense struggled to find a consistent spark.
Despite the offensive woes, Kristy Curry’s squad stayed within striking distance. And in the final minute, they had a chance to tie things up.
Timmons drove hard to the basket, looking to draw contact and possibly get to the line. Instead, the whistle went the other way - a charge was called, and with that, Alabama’s hopes of overtime slipped away.
Auburn iced the game at the free-throw line, sealing a four-point win.
Losing to your biggest rival always stings, but this one cuts a little deeper. This is the only scheduled Iron Bowl matchup on the women’s side this season unless the two teams meet again in the SEC Tournament, and Alabama had a chance to make a statement on the road.
Instead, they walk away with a missed opportunity - one that could have helped solidify their place among the SEC’s top contenders. Especially tough, considering Auburn was coming off a lopsided loss to Texas just a week earlier.
Now, the focus shifts to Sunday, where Alabama returns home to face another longtime rival in Tennessee. The Lady Vols come in ranked and riding a five-game win streak, and Coleman Coliseum has been kind to the Tide this season - they’re undefeated at home. If there’s a time to bounce back, this is it.
And if Essence Cody can return to the lineup, even better. Her presence in the paint could be a game-changer against a Tennessee squad that brings size, length, and plenty of momentum into Tuscaloosa. This is the type of game that can define a season - a chance for Alabama to show they’re more than just a middle-of-the-pack team in the SEC.
Tipoff can’t come soon enough.