After falling behind by as many as 13 in the second quarter, Alabama women's basketball battled back with a big third quarter to take a two-point lead over No. 10 Oklahoma heading into the final period.
But the Sooners were too much down the stretch for the Crimson Tide, pulling away for a 79-71 win that puts Alabama's backs firmly against the wall heading into the final four games of the regular season.
Alabama's undoing against Oklahoma came on the glass - the Sooners outrebounded the Tide by 20 (45-25), using their advantage in the paint to bully Alabama. Kristy Curry's team has hung its hat on perimeter shooting this year, but couldn't hit enough threes (9-of-30) to make up for the difference on the interior.
Ta'Mia Scott led the way for Alabama with 17 points, and both Ace Austin and Jessica Timmons scored 11 each.
Oklahoma has a really good team, but this was a game Alabama needed to find a way to win. The loss is the Tide's second straight, dropping them to 20-6 overall and 6-6 in SEC play with no sure-fire wins left on the regular-season schedule.
Alabama women's basketball could be staring at a significant losing streak to close the year
Alabama entered Sunday's matchup against Oklahoma as a projected 6-seed in ESPN's bracketology. It is far removed from the bubble, but could be trending in the wrong direction heading into postseason play due to a ridiculously tough schedule ahead.
The road game against A&M and Sunday at home against Oklahoma may have been the two most winnable games left on the schedule. Dropping both puts Alabama in a tough spot.
No. 3 South Carolina comes to Tuscaloosa on Thursday. It's hard to see a path to victory for the Crimson Tide against the Gamecocks. Alabama opened SEC play this season in Columbia, and South Carolina rolled to a 26-point win.
Alabama then travels to Florida next Sunday in what will be the most winnable game remaining. The Gators are 3-9 in SEC play, but road games are always difficult, and Florida knocked Alabama out of the SEC Tournament last season with a team similar in quality. Alabama has already proven it can lose to the league's bottom feeders on the road with losses to A&M and Auburn on its resume.
Alabama finishes the regular season with two more Top 5 opponents - on the road against No. 5 Vanderbilt on February 26th and then at home against No. 4 Texas on March 1st.
Alabama will need to figure out a way to win at least one of those games to avoid a six-game losing streak to finish the regular season. This is the hand they've been dealt - and the position they've put themselves in.
How they respond will determine how this season will be remembered.