The men’s tournament wrapped up its second round on Sunday, but the women played on through Monday. Sarah Ashlee Barker and Alabama delivered the most entertaining game of both tournaments in a double overtime thriller versus Maryland with a Sweet 16 berth–and the right to play South Carolina–at stake.
Final tally: Maryland 111, Alabama 108, jubilation, heartbreak and Barker’s record-breaking performance in defeat.
Sarah Ashlee Barker Makes History, Buzzer Beaters Abound in All-Timer Between Alabama Crimson Tide & Maryland Terrapins
Hosting the 5-seed Crimson Tide as the 4-seed, the Terrapins found themselves down 17 in the second half but fought their way back in the late third quarter and into the fourth to hit a game-tying three with 12 seconds on the clock. Alabama got a decent look in its final possession of regulation, but the ball popped off back iron and Maryland survived.
If that wasn’t enough excitement, the first overtime period took down to the wire, nail-biting tension to another level. As the horn sounded, Barker unleashed a deep three that lollipopped well short of the rim–but she drew a foul in the process, a major mistake from the Terps.
With 0.7 seconds left, she went to the line needing to make all three to tie the game at 96 and necessitate a second overtime. A 71.7% free throw shooter this season, the senior swished all three.
In control for both extra periods, Maryland again had Alabama up against the ropes, up three with 1.8 ticks remaining in OT 2. Barker had one last shot on an inbounds play for a Hail Mary heave, but the well-defended pass never reached her. At the buzzer, she lay flat on her back before teammates rushed to pull her up, a fitting picture of her historic night.
Surpassing the previous mark of 41, her 45 points are the most in school history. At least in Alabama archives, she has single-game GOAT status.
Oh-So-Close Deliverance Ends in Devastation
Before the teams assembled for the hand shake line, Barker embraced her coach of three years, Kristy Curry, her face buried in Curry’s shoulder. She smiled as she congratulated her opponents in line, not without a tinge of sadness. As Alabama players walked to the huddle before their last trip at the offensive end, Barker shook her head. During the timeout, she looked up, exhausted, at the scoreboard: 45 points and not enough, to this point, to secure a first ever Sweet 16 under Curry.
The Crimson Tide got a good look, an open Diana Collins three (36.2%). It missed and the ball went out of bounds off Maryland, officials confirmed after review, giving Alabama a final, futile chance.
A transfer from Georgia, Barker spent three seasons at Alabama, reaching the tournament every year. Those three berths, and one in 2021, account for the totality of Alabama’s March Madness appearances this century.
This season, Barker led the team with 17.2 points and 2.0 steals, while finishing second in rebounds (6.3) and assists (3.9). She shot 50.3% from the floor and 35.2% from distance.
In the final game of her college career, she shot 17-25, including 4-6 on triples. She also recorded 8 boards, 3 assists, and 3 steals–an all-around mind-blowing performance. It was a devastating way to end her days in crimson, but she can take pride knowing that she did everything possible to help her team–quite literally, more than anyone has done in school history.
In the win, three Terrapins provided over 20 points: seniors Shyanne Sellers (28) and Sarah Te-Biasu (26) and junior Kaylene Smikle, who scored 24 before fouling out. In an epic battle of attrition, three Alabama starters took to the bench with five fouls, while Barker and Karly Weathers each had four. They logged 49 and 50 minutes, respectively, as did Maryland’s Allie Kubek (19 points) and Te-Biasu.
The Terps tip off with the Gamecocks on Friday, March 28.
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