Alabama Women's Basketball scored a monumental, program-altering upset win over LSU in overtime at Coleman Coliseum on Thursday night. It was further proof of concept that Kristy Curry has elevated the Crimson Tide program to heights it hasn't seen in a long time and signals that Alabama can compete with the upper-echelon teams in the SEC.
Led by Aaliyah Nye's 28 points, Alabama led for the majority of the contest and held a 67-57 lead in the 4th quarter. But LSU battled back and outscored Alabama 22-12 down the stretch to force overtime.
Nye was putting the team on her back needing only 12 shots to score her 28 points, but she fouled out in regulation and things looked bleak. Tied at 79 going into overtime, all eyes were on Sarah Ashlee Barker, who made a couple of buckets but then also fouled out on a questionable intentional foul call where her elbow inadvertently connected with the lip of an LSU defender who was very clearly in the cylinder defensively.
Barker fouled out with Alabama leading 86-84 with 31 seconds to play. The intentional foul call gave LSU two shots plus the ball and seemed to turn the momentum completely toward the Tigers.
LSU's Mikaylah Williams, an 88% free throw shooter, missed one of the two free throws to keep Alabama ahead by one point. Alabama's Essence Cody blocked a shot near the basket with under 10 seconds to play and Zaay Green hit a pair of free throws to put Alabama up 88-85.
LSU's Williams got a good look from three at the end, but the shot missed. It gave Alabama a massive, program-defining win. The Tigers came in ranked No. 7 in both polls; it was the first win for the women's basketball team since 2012.
What Alabama's win over LSU means moving forward
Curry will lead Alabama to the NCAA Tournament for the third consecutive season and the fourth time in five years. She has a chance to help the Crimson Tide to their highest seed in the tournament this century. When Curry led Alabama to the tournament for the first time in her tenure in 2021, it was the first berth in the Big Dance since 1999.
Now, it's become a regular occurrence again. The Tide hasn't been able to break into the upper-echelon of teams in the country, but Curry has done a phenomenal job in Tuscaloosa and continues to push this programs to heights it hasn't seen since the Rick Moody era.
Coming into Thursday's upset win over LSU, Alabama was projected as a No. 5 seed in the NCAA Tournament. If the Tide can get into the Top 16 as a 4-seed, it would have the opportunity to host the opening two rounds in Tuscaloosa.
Hosting in the tournament would go a long way in Alabama reaching its goal of making the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 26 years.