Aaliyah Nye tallies 29 points as No. 18 Alabama women overcome 16-point gap to defeat Auburn 66-50.

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Aaliyah Nye showcased an impressive performance by sinking six three-pointers and racking up 29 points, aiding No. 18 Alabama in overcoming a substantial 16-point deficit in the first half to defeat their in-state adversary, Auburn, with a final score of 66-50.

Sarah Ashlee Barker contributed significantly with 13 points, along with eight rebounds, five assists, and two steals for Alabama (22-6, 9-5 SEC), while Zaay Green added another 12 points to the scoreboard.

The game saw DeYona Gaston tying the score at 34 early in the third quarter with a jumper. However, Nye quickly took charge, scoring back-to-back three-point shots that fueled Alabama’s 15-3 run. Despite Yuting Deng reducing Auburn’s gap to five points with a three-point play, Nye responded fiercely, scoring eight consecutive points during a 10-0 stretch that pushed Alabama’s lead to 63-48 with just 2:29 remaining.
Leading the Tigers was Gaston with a double-double, registering 19 points and 13 rebounds. However, Auburn (12-15, 3-11) faced challenges, particularly in the fourth quarter, where they committed nine out of their total 21 turnovers.

The match began with Auburn establishing an advantage by scoring 13 of the first 15 points, reaching their peak lead with Mar’shaun Bostic’s three-point play that put them ahead 29-13 with 4:51 left before halftime. Despite struggling initially with shooting, hitting only 4-of-17, Alabama rebounded dramatically, making 7-of-9 from the field and closing the first half with an outstanding 17-0 run, seizing a one-point lead as they headed into halftime. During this scoring surge, Nye was pivotal, contributing 10 points, ensuring Alabama maintained the lead for the remainder of the game.

Historically, Auburn has the upper hand in their rivalry, leading the all-time series 52-34. However, Alabama has turned the tide recently, winning seven out of the last eight encounters.

Next, Auburn will travel to face Georgia, while Alabama is set to host No. 7 LSU on Thursday.