TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — In a thrilling matchup on Wednesday night, Sarah Ashlee Barker led the way for the No. 22 Alabama Crimson Tide with an impressive performance, scoring 19 points while also contributing nine rebounds and five assists. Aaliyah Nye supported the effort by adding 15 points, helping Alabama secure a 68-58 victory over Norfolk State.

The Crimson Tide held a commanding lead of 37-20 at the halftime break. However, the game took a turn in the fourth quarter as Norfolk State mounted a comeback, highlighted by seven consecutive points from Diamond Johnson, narrowing the gap to just 51-50 with 7:15 remaining in the game.

Alabama responded by extending their lead back to eight points, but Norfolk State tightened the score yet again as Kierra Wheeler and Niya Fields netted three-pointers on consecutive possessions, closing the score to 60-56. Despite this pressure, Alabama regained control with a series of four straight field goals, culminating in a key three-pointer from Nye that pushed the lead to 67-56.

In addition to Barker’s outstanding performance, Essence Cody contributed 14 points, and Zaay Green added 12 for Alabama, which moved to a perfect record of 4-0. Karly Weathers emerged as a strong presence on the boards, pulling down a team-high 11 rebounds.

For Norfolk State, Wheeler topped the scoring charts with 19 points, while Diamond Johnson finished with 14 points and eight rebounds. Fields also made an impact with 14 points and five assists.

Alabama’s victory comes on the heels of their recent rise in the Associated Press poll, where they attained a ranking for the first time since 1999. In their previous match against Troy, starting players Green, Nye, Weathers, Barker, and Cody combined for an astounding 78 of the team’s 94 points, and they continued their strong performance in the game against Norfolk State, contributing significantly to the team’s overall scoring.