NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The University of Alabama women's basketball team defeated Auburn, 75-68, in the first round of the 2022 Southeastern Conference Women's Basketball Tournament Wednesday, March 2 at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn. The 11th-seeded Crimson Tide improved to 16-12 (6-10), while the 14th-seeded Tigers dropped to 10-17 (2-14) in 2021-22.

It marked Alabama's seventh straight win over Auburn, including its third win against the in-state foe this season. The Crimson Tide has now won five of its last seven games, including four of its last five games.

Megan Abrams led the Crimson Tide in scoring with 25 points on 8-of-15 from the field and 9-of-11 from the free-throw line. The senior recorded 10 of her 25 points in the fourth quarter, in part thanks to an impressive 6-of-6 from the line down the stretch. She added two rebounds, season-high five assists and one steal in 40 minutes of action.

In fact, four starters put up double digits, including Brittany Davis' 15 points and JaMya Mingo-Young's and Allie Craig Cruce's 14 points apiece. Davis and Mingo-Young both clocked double-doubles, as Davis added 11 rebounds and Mingo-Young added a career-high 15 rebounds.

Mingo-Young's 15 rebounds are more than any Alabama player in all-time SEC Tournaments.

Despite the Crimson Tide trailing the Tigers on five instances in the game, which also featured seven ties, Alabama led Auburn for more than 25 minutes in the pairing. The Crimson Tide shot an impressive 49.1 percent from the field, thanks to 26 makes on 53 attempts. The Tide made six three-point field goals, four of which came from Cruce, and went 17-of-24 from the line.

Despite Auburn scoring one more second-chance point than Alabama, 14-13, the Crimson Tide outrebounded the Tigers, 42-33. Also, despite Alabama committing eight more turnovers than Auburn, 22-14, the Crimson Tide beat the Tigers on points off turnovers, 19-16.

News and Notes

• Alabama is in its 48th season with an 807-626 (.563) all-time record.
• The Crimson Tide is 16-12 (6-10 SEC) in 2021-22.
• Kristy Curry is in her ninth season as the head coach of the Crimson Tide, holding a 149-130 record in her time at The Capstone.
• Curry is in her 23rd season as a head coach in her career, holding a 458-279 mark all-time.
• Alabama's starting combination included guards Megan Abrams, Hannah Barber, JaMya Mingo-Young and Brittany Davis, and forward Allie Craig Cruce, marking the second time UA has used that starting combination.
• Allie Craig Cruce scored first for Alabama in the game.
• Jada Rice was the first sub for the Crimson Tide.
• Alabama won the opening tip.
• Alabama scored a three-point field goal for its first points in the game.
• That marked the 14th time UA has scored a three-point field goal for its first points in the game this season, and the first time it has been done by Allie Craig Cruce.
• Brittany Davis has recorded double-digit scoring in 26-of-28 games this season with her 15-point performance against the Tigers.
• Allie Craig Cruce put up a career-high 14 points, which included a career-high four three-point field goals, in her second straight start this season.
• JaMya Mingo-Young grabbed a career-high 15 rebounds against the Tigers, the most rebounds any Alabama player has recorded in an SEC Tournament game.

How It Happened

• Allie Craig Cruce opened the Crimson Tide in scoring on a three-point field goal. At the first break in action, the Crimson Tide made just two field goals on seven attempts. Auburn led Alabama, 10-6, at the media timeout, while the Tigers enjoyed 50.0 percent shooting on 3-of-6 from the field, including one from long range.
• Allie Craig Cruce made a trio of three-point field goals in the first quarter, including a buzzer beater, to help Alabama lead Auburn, 22-15, at the end of the period. Alabama improved its shooting out of the first timeout, going 8-of-14 from the field in that quarter. The Crimson Tide also beat the Tigers on the boards early, 10-8.
• Alabama went on a 7-0 run at the beginning of the second quarter, thanks to the effort of three different players, stretching its lead, 29-20, with seven minutes in the period.
• Auburn went 3-of-3 from the field as the clock dwindled down in the second quarter, helping themselves to just a three-point deficit, 33-30, with two minutes left in the period.
• A last-second jumper attempt by JaMya Mingo-Young was no good, as Alabama went into the locker room for halftime, leading Auburn, 35-31. The Crimson Tide shot 48.3 percent from the field in the first half, making 14 of its 29 attempts from the field, while the Tigers shot 44.0 percent form the field on 11-of-25 in that time. Megan Abrams led the Tide in scoring with 11 points on 5-of-8 shooting and 1-of-3 from the line. The Crimson Tide led the Tigers in rebounds, 19-15.
• Brittany Davis opened scoring in the second half with a three-point field goal.
• The Tigers went on a 10-0 run over the course of three minutes in the middle of the third quarter, helping them to a 43-40 lead. It was capped by a Brittany Davis free throw, as the Tide trailed the Tigers, 43-41. Alabama hadn't made a field goal for more than six minutes in the middle of the third quarter.
• Alabama scored on back-to-back possessions to make it a one-point game, thanks to a pair of layups by Hannah Barber and JaMya Mingo-Young. Mingo-Young missed a free throw on an and-one play to tie the game.
• Alabama trailed Auburn, 53-50, at the end of the third quarter. The Crimson Tide made just four baskets in that period, but went 6-of-9 from the line.
• The Crimson Tide had three team fouls called on it in the first 40 seconds of the fourth quarter.
• Alabama led Auburn, 68-61, with one minute and 26 seconds on the clock. The Crimson Tide stretched its lead, 70-61, with a layup by Brittany Davis.
• Despite the Tigers attempting to take control by committing fouls, sending the Crimson Tide to the line, Alabama defeated the Auburn, 75-68.

Up Next

Alabama women's basketball will compete in the second round against sixth-seed Georgia at the SEC Tournament in Nashville, Tenn., Thursday, March 2.