Alabama
17-3,4-2SEC
Arkansas
8-12,1-4SEC
No. 19/19 Alabama Cruises Past Arkansas, 94-62
1/19/2025 7:01:00 PM | Women's Basketball
The Crimson Tide scored 90-plus points for the sixth time this season en route to its fourth SEC win
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - The No. 19/19 Alabama women's basketball team (17-3, 4-2 SEC) defeated Arkansas (8-12, 1-4 SEC) 94-62, Sunday afternoon in Bud Walton Arena. The Crimson Tide scored over 90 points in a game for the sixth time this season and recorded a season high for total points in a conference game.
Playing again without team captain Sarah Ashlee Barker, the Crimson Tide's offense was led by Zaay Green with 21 points and dished out seven assists. Karly Weathers set a season-high 19 points while tying a career-high five made three-pointers. Essence Cody scored all 13 of her points in the second half to pick up her 12th game of the season in double figures. JeAnna Cunningham also set a season-high, scoring 10 points and grabbing a season-high six rebounds.
Green also paced Alabama on defense, as she nearly recorded a double-double with nine rebounds. Cody grabbed six rebounds and blocked three shots on the day to control the paint. Weathers added six rebounds and a block to her performance, while Cunningham grabbed six rebounds and recorded a steal. Diana Collins added three steals and Aaliyah Nye blocked two shots to contribute to the Tide's defensive efforts.
Kiki Smith led all scorers for Arkansas with 23 points as Vera Ojenuwa (12 points) and Phoeni Stotjin (11 points) both scored in double figures for the Razorbacks.
Head Coach Kristy Curry Comments
"I'm just really proud of our team. Great crowd today. I appreciate everybody coming out on a cold day. I thought the balance across our team was good; everyone played and contributed. With Sarah Ashlee [Barker] out, and the way this team just continues to dig deep and step up through adversity, I could not be more proud. I thought that Karly [Weathers] was unbelievable today, on a day where you really try to take away Aaliyah [Nye]. She [Weathers] stepped up in a big way and let the game come to her. She puts so much work and energy into everything that she does every day; it's really special to see that. They again, just kind of steadied the ship, but I thought it was Diana Collins' defense on Izzy [Higginbottom] – that was the difference in the ball game, even though that might not show up in the stat sheet.
"It's a really special day for us to have the opportunity to play today for We Back Pat and what Coach Pat Summit has meant to so many of us, and how she has infused each and every one of us with a mission to continue to play, coach and teach the right way, to be the hardest workers in the room and to represent our game by the way that you lead. An elite level with class and integrity. As a mom, I have great respect for her and how she went about every single thing so it's a really special honor. I thought our kids embodied what Coach Summit is about today, with how they played on the road and I could not be more proud of them."
Game Notes
- Alabama controlled the glass, grabbing 17 offensive rebounds which led to 20 second-chance points
- The Crimson Tide scored 44 points in the paint compared to 18 for Arkansas
- UA's bench outscored the Razorbacks' bench by 26-20
- JeAnna Cunningham recorded a season-high 10 points, while also grabbing a season-high six rebounds
- Three Alabama players scored in double figures in the first half, giving the Crimson Tide a 12-point lead after 20 minutes
- Karly Weathers tallied a season-high 19 points, shooting seven for 10 from the floor while tying her career-high with five made three-pointers
- Green (21 points) posted her 18th game of the season in double-figure scoring and her eighth game of the season with 20-plus points
- Essence Cody blocked three shots to surpass 100 career blocks
- Cody scored all 13 of her points in the second half as she picked up her 12th double-digit scoring game of the year
- Alabama shot 50 percent from the floor (22-of-68), 50 percent from deep (11-of-22) and 76 percent from the line (13-of-17)
- In comparison, Arkansas shot 34 percent from the field (21-of-61), 37 percent from three-point range (7-of-19) and 72 percent from the charity stripe (13-of-18)
How It Happened
- Alabama's offense found its groove early, starting three for five from three-point range, to give the Tide a four-point lead at the first media timeout of the contest (17-13)
- Zaay Green capped a 7-2 Alabama run with a deep three-pointer at the end of the first quarter, to push the Crimson Tide's lead to eight points (24-16)
- UA's offensive run continued into the second quarter, posting a 14-5 run over Arkansas through the second-quarter media timeout (38-23)
- JeAnna Cunningham (10 points), Zaay Green (10 points) and Karly Weathers (13 points) each finished with double-figure scoring as the Crimson Tide took a 12-point lead to the halftime locker room (46-34)
- Alabama opened the third quarter where it left off at halftime, posting a 12-2 run in the opening two-plus minutes of the frame (60-36)
- Both squads traded baskets to close the third quarter as Alabama finished with a 29-point lead over the Razorbacks (77-48)
- The Crimson Tide outscored Arkansas 17-14 over the final 10 minutes to clinch a 32-point victory (94-62)
Up Next
- Following a bye week, Alabama will return to Coleman Coliseum on Sunday, Jan. 26, to host Vanderbilt
- Tipoff between the two teams is set for 1 p.m. CT on SEC Network
