Auburn, Ala. -- On Thursday night, the Alabama and Auburn women's basketball teams clashed for the 105th time in history at Neville Arena. Auburn historically led the series 54-50, but the Crimson Tide had dominated recent matchups with an 11-1 record in the last 12 games. However, the Tigers broke that streak with a 58-54 victory.
The "Iron Bowl" of women's basketball began hot. Although the Crimson Tide won the tipoff, the Tigers quickly forced a turnover and scored first, taking a 2-0 lead. The Tigers' defense was dominant early, forcing three turnovers in the first two minutes.
The first quarter ended with the Tigers leading 11-8, having converted seven Crimson Tide turnovers into nine points. This was a stark contrast to the Crimson Tide's previous game against the Missouri Tigers, where they only had three turnovers the entire game.
Despite the Tigers narrow lead, the Crimson Tide aimed to reduce turnovers. First-year head coach Larry Vickers understood the rivalry's intensity and the importance of a win.
The Crimson Tide started the second quarter with a 7-2 run, tying the game at 15-15. However, the Tigers responded, increasing their lead to six points by the media timeout (26-20), making it difficult for the Crimson Tide to gain control.
Despite the Tigers' defense, the Crimson Tide closed the gap to a single point before halftime (29-30), setting the stage for a competitive second half.
The Tigers came out strong after the break, holding the Crimson Tide to just eight points in the third quarter and extending their lead to six (43-37).
Early in the final quarter, the Tigers stretched their lead to nine points. However, the Crimson Tide responded with a 12-2 run, taking their first lead of the night at 49-48 with 5:14 remaining.
The Tigers then went on an 8-2 spurt to take control of the game at 56-51 with 51 seconds left. Jessica Timmons then hit a three-pointer, cutting the lead to two with 31 seconds remaining. An Auburn turnover gave the Crimson Tide a chance to tie or win, but Syriah Daniels drew a charge on Timmons with four seconds left. Ja'Mia Harris then sealed the win for the Tigers with a pair of free throws with three seconds remaining, securing the Tigers first ranked win since 2024.
The Auburn's defense and perfect free-throw shooting in the fourth quarter secured the 58-54 victory over No. 21 Alabama, holding the Crimson Tide nearly 20 points below their average.
No. 21 Alabama will have another rivalry matchup on Sunday, hosting No. 20 Tennessee for its annual We Back Pat game. Tipoff between the Crimson Tide and Lady Vols is set for 1 p.m. CT on SEC Network.