Alabama women's basketball defeats Kentucky, picks up first home SEC win of the season
Alabama women's basketball picked up its first SEC home victory on Sunday against the Kentucky Wildcats, 91-74, to pick up its third conference win of the season.
The Crimson Tide trailed 20-16 after a quarter and finished the game on a 75-54 run. Alabama's 91 total points marks a season high in conference play so far this season.
In Sunday's victory, Sarah Ashlee Barker scored a career-high 34 points, followed by Aaliyah Nye with 15 points and Essence Cody with 14 points.
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Here are three takeaways from the game between Alabama (16-6, 3-4 SEC) and Kentucky (9-12, 2-5 SEC):
Wildcats hot start scoring
Despite being 13th in the SEC in points per game, the Wildcats got off to a quick and efficient start scoring the ball.
After the first quarter, Kentucky scored 20 points on 62% shooting against a top Crimson Tide defense. The Wildcats also made four of its five three-point attempts in the first quarter.
After the first half, the Wildcats scored 36 points on 50% shooting from the field.
Barker takes over in first half; scores career-high in points
Sarah Ashlee Barker took over the game in the first half, scoring in bunches, and playing with a ton of effort on both sides of the ball.
Barker scored a first half season-high 21 points on 8-for-13 shooting with seven rebounds, leading all first half scorers. She also showed active hands defensively recording three steals in the half as well.
Barker finished the game with a season high 34 points along with a team-leading 10 rebounds and four steals.
Alabama also hosted the "We Back Pat" night against Kentucky, to honor hall of fame coach Pat Summit's legacy.
"Just going out there and doing the best that I could on 'We Back Pat' night truly means the world to me. She demanded so much from her players and that is what made her such a great coach, and it was an honor to just go out and play for her today," Barker said.
Alabama picks up first SEC home win of the season
After three home losses to begin SEC play, Alabama was able to pick up a much-needed conference victory at home against the Kentucky Wildcats.
Alabama remains in the middle of the pack in the SEC at the halfway point of the season, but will look to this game for some confidence moving into a tough road stretch.
Up next
The Crimson Tide travel to Fayetteville to face the Arkansas Razorbacks in Bud Walton Arena on Thursday, Feb. 1 (2 p.m., SEC Network+).
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Alabama women's basketball picks up first SEC home win of the season
