Freshman Ace Austin dropped four three-pointers in the fourth quarter on a 12-2 run for Alabama to really open things up and put the Missouri Tigers away with a 65-48 win Wednesday night in Alabama's first game in the SEC Tournament. If this was a foreshadowing of the future for the freshman guard, then watch out, we are on the verge of something special. To show up in the biggest moment of the season and put the game away shows Austin is soon to emerge as the star of Kristy Curry's program.
Senior Karly Weathers had a tough shooting night, but made sure her presence was felt, doing her best Dennis Rodman impression by grabbing 16 rebounds, and Essence Cody looked more comfortable, finally getting back to double-digit scoring.
The tough end to the regular season seems to have given this team the resiliency they need in March because it is not often a team wins by 17 when their leading scorer is 3-of-16 from the field. Jessica Timmons may not have had her best offensive performance, but she played hard, and the defensive effort across the board was elite throughout the game.
This Missouri team was averaging over 70 points a game during the regular season, and to hold them well below their average of 48 points says a lot about the defensive pressure.
Diana Collins had one of her better games of the season, scoring 13 points on an efficient shooting night, and Ta'Mia Scott was also able to continue her double-digit scoring streak, putting up 12 points. Now Alabama looks to Thursday night, where they have a chance to face a Tennessee team that has not won a game since February 12th. It is not often that Alabama gets the best of the Lady Vols on the hardwood, but if there is a time to knock them off, it seems now is the time.