TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) — Talaysia Cooper scored 16 points, Janiah Barker had a double-double, and No. 20 Tennessee defeated No. 21 Alabama 70-59 on Sunday for the Lady Vols’ sixth straight win.
Barker scored 10 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in her third double-double of the season. Mia Pauldo added 13 points, Zee Spearman 12 and Alyssa Latham another 12 off the bench for Tennessee (13-3, 5-0 SEC), which has won eight of nine overall.
Tennessee fell behind early in the fourth quarter when Jessica Timmons’ 3-pointer gave Alabama a 54-53 lead, capping a 13-2 run in which she scored eight points. Trailing for the first time since it was 19-18, Tennessee bounced back with two free throws and a 3-pointer by Pauldo to lead 58-54 and the Lady Vols outscored Alabama 17-4 heading into the final minute.
Timmons scored 22 points and Karly Weathers added 11 for Alabama (17-3, 3-3). Naomi Jones had 11 rebounds and blocked six shots.
Alabama led 17-14 after one quarter, then Jaida Civil, Paldo and Barker hit back-to-back-to-back 3-pointers to move Tennessee out front 27-19 midway through the second. Tennessee scored 21 points in the quarter and led 35-28 at halftime.
Cooper hit two 3s early in the third quarter, giving Tennessee a 10-point lead. The Lady Vols still led by 10 in the final minute but Timmons, who scored eight in the quarter, had a three-point play and Alancia Ramsey converted a layup to get Alabama within 51-46 heading to the fourth. The run continued into the fourth quarter, capped by Timmons’ 3-pointer for Alabama’s only lead of the second half.
Up next
Tennessee: The Lady Vols host Kentucky on Thursday.
Alabama: The Crimson Tide host Mississippi State on Sunday.
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