COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The Alabama women’s basketball team made program history after defeating a top-15 opponent in back-to-back games for the first time ever with its 76-63 victory over No. 12 Texas A&M on Thursday night inside Reed Arena in College Station, Texas.
The win marks the first time the Crimson Tide (17-11, 7-8 SEC) has defeated the Aggies (22-6, 10-5 SEC) in series history.
The Tide entered Thursday’s game with an 0-9 record all-time against Texas A&M, including an 0-5 mark in Reed Arena with all five losses coming by 15 points or more.
Alabama was led by junior Jasmine Walker who notched a career-high 24 points on 8-of-17 shooting from the floor, including a career-best 6-of-12 from beyond the arc and nine rebounds. Junior Ariyah Copeland dominated downlow after compiling her third double-double for the season with 18 points and a team-high 12 points. In her first start of the year, senior Cierra Johnson added 14 points and six rebounds, while redshirt junior Jordan Lewis added nine points, a career-high nine assists and six rebounds in the win.
“Ariyah (Copeland) played with a lot of energy tonight and she really rose to the challenge,” said head coach Kristy Curry. “She hasn’t had the best few games, but she looked like she did against Auburn a few weeks ago. I thought that Ashley Knight came in well as a reliever and got the big three-point play before the half, those two together were really special tonight. What can I say about Ariyah, she had a double-double against one of the best centers in this league and it was huge for us tonight. It was a credit to everybody – Jordan (Lewis) had nine assists to three turnovers in this environment. It was an incredible effort from our kids.”
Walker post back-to-back 20-point games for the first time in her career. Her six three-pointers were a career-high as she was the first Crimson Tide to hit six threes since Lewis did it earlier this season versus Tulane. She was just one rebound shy from her fifth double-double of the season.
After only putting up a total of 10 points over the last three games, Copeland went off for her eighth double-double of her career. She was also an efficient 8-of-13 (61.5 percent) from the floor.
Johnson has returned to form with back-to-back double-digit games, after shooting an effective 6-of-11 (55 percent) from the field.
Lewis posted a career-high nine assists and now has 108 assists this season. She impressed at the free throw line, going 9-of-10 from the stripe.
Alabama dominated the boards by outrebounding A&M 46-35.
The trio of Walker, Copeland and Johnson combined for 56 points on 22-of-41 (54 percent) shooting for the night.
A&M standout Chennedy Carter came in averaging 22 points per game and was held in check after shooting 5-of-20 from the floor.
Alabama shot 43.5 percent (27-of-62) for the game while holding A&M to just 36 percent (24-of-66). The Tide also went 14-of-15 (93 percent) from the foul line, while hitting eight three-pointers in the victory.
Alabama will play its final regular season game of the season on Sunday for Senior Day against Missouri inside Coleman Coliseum. Tipoff is at 12:40 p.m. CT and will be streamed on SEC Network+.
