TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (EETV) - Alabama's Aaliyah Nye became the all-time leader in 3-pointers after hitting her first shot from beyond the arc in the game. When asked about the record afterward, she said, “Honestly, I want to thank God, my coaches and my teammates for putting me in the position to get those shots. They mean a lot to me, and I wouldn’t have that record if it wasn’t for them.”
Despite a strong start for the Tigers, the Crimson Tide erased their lead in the first half and battled Auburn throughout the second. Nye’s 29 points led Alabama to a 66-50 victory.
Auburn opened the game strong with a 13-2 run before Crimson Tide head coach Kristy Curry called a timeout. Not only did Auburn dominate offensively, but the Tigers also controlled Alabama on defense, doubling their rebounds and forcing seven turnovers to widen the gap.
The Tigers were led by DeYona Gaston, who had eight points and five rebounds. Nye carried Alabama’s offense early, scoring five of the Tide’s nine first-quarter points. Auburn controlled the game and finished the opening quarter with a 20-9 lead.
Auburn continued its dominance to start the second quarter, but Alabama finished the half with momentum. The Crimson Tide steadily climbed back, matching Auburn’s scoring early in the period before closing on a 17-0 run to take the lead into halftime.
Nye again led Alabama, scoring 10 points in the quarter and outscoring the entire Auburn team, which managed just nine. The Crimson Tide focused on limiting turnovers, allowing their offense to flow while securing more rebounds. After trailing 20-9 at the end of the first, Alabama went into halftime up 30-29.
The second half was a continuation of Alabama’s dominance on both ends of the floor. Although Auburn tied the game multiple times, the Tigers never regained the lead. The Crimson Tide shot over 50% in the second half, keeping Auburn at bay as the lead fluctuated.
The Tigers’ morale took a further hit when Gaston went down late in the fourth quarter. Meanwhile, Alabama’s defense locked down Auburn’s shooters, holding them to 14% from 3-point range—well below their season average of 33%. Nye’s 29 points fueled Alabama’s victory, securing the Tide’s 66-50 win.
In a postgame interview, Nye was asked about Alabama’s second-quarter turnaround. She responded, “Auburn’s a really good defensive team. They’re gonna get up in your face and pressure you, which led us to speed up in the first quarter. We got stops, which led us to turn it around in the second.”
The loss drops Auburn to 12-14 overall and 3-10 in SEC play. The Tigers will travel to Athens, Georgia, to face the Georgia Bulldogs at Stegeman Coliseum. Tipoff is set for Thursday, Feb. 27, at 5 p.m.
