Alabama Crimson Tide Secures Win Against Missouri In SEC Tournament

Alabama's 65-48 victory over the Missouri Tigers capped off the first round of the SEC Women's Basketball Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, South Carolina. The Crimson Tide's victory sets up a primetime clash against the Tennessee Lady Vols. One of the bright spots from Alabama's win was the return of Ace Austin.

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Alabama entered the game ready to make a statement and end an SEC tournament losing skid, and they took control early, leading 13-9 at the end of the first quarter. Missouri struggled on offense, shooting only 25% in the first half. Alabama took advantage of Missouri's troubles, leading 31-20 at halftime.

Missouri threatened a comeback in the third quarter, cutting Alabama's advantage to 41–37. However, freshman Ace Austin came alive in the fourth quarter, starting with a 9-0 run, going 3-for-3 from beyond the arc, scoring all 14 points, and making four 3-pointers during a 12-2 run that helped the Crimson Tide win the game.

Three of Alabama's five starters scored in double digits or came close by halftime, with Essence Cody leading with ten points and Ta'Mia Scott and Diana Collins adding eight each. Jordana Reisma led Missouri with 15 points, and outstanding guard Grace Slaughter had a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds, but it was insufficient to halt the Crimson Tide.

Head Coach Kristy Curry shared her thoughts about Ace Austin and the importance of having a healthy team.

We never talk about excuses with injury but having Ace, Naomi and Essence out in some losses really hurt us. At the end of the day, its great to have Ace back. I thought Ace has looked really good, shooting the ball and that was evident tonight. Ace is really working on her catch and shoot.
We were hoping to getting back Naomi, its really important as we head into the NCAA Tournament that we get as healthy as we possibly can. Its that time of the year being short handed, the margin of error really shrinks. Playing 3, 4, 5 and 10 the last four out of the five games. We need to be in a situation where we are at full strength.
I really credit Ace for finding a way to get back, using last week to her benefit to rest and recover.

From the moment she stepped onto the high school stage, Ace Austin established herself as one of the most decorated multi-sport athletes in Alabama history.

A four-star recruit, Austin was ranked as the No. 55 overall player in the Class of 2025 by ESPNW, No. 43 by Prospects Nation and No. 51 by BTN Scouting, solidifying her status as a nationally recognized prospect. But her impact went far beyond recruiting rankings.

At Spring Garden High School, playing under the guidance of her father, head coach Ricky Austin, and her mother, assistant coach Dana Austin, she built a legacy defined by championships and individual dominance. Austin led her program to four consecutive AHSAA Class 1A Basketball State Championships and earned First Team All-State honors all four years. She was named the AHSAA Class 1A State Tournament Most Valuable Player twice and collected Alabama Basketball Northeast Regional MVP honors twice, while earning Northeast Regional All-Tournament recognition from 2020-2024.

Her individual accolades were just as impressive. Austin was named the Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA) 1A Player of the Year in back-to-back seasons (2024, 2025) and was crowned Alabama Miss Basketball twice. She also secured back-to-back Alabama MaxPreps Player of the Year honors and was named the Gatorade Alabama Girls Basketball Player of the Year in consecutive years. In 2024, she was recognized as AL.com’s Female Athlete of the Year and the Gadsden Times Area Player of the Year.

Statistically, her junior season showcased her all-around game, as she averaged 20.2 points, 7.2 rebounds, 7.1 assists and 3.6 steals per game — demonstrating her ability to score, facilitate and defend at an elite level.

Austin’s excellence extended beyond the hardwood. She was a two-time AHSAA Class 1A State Volleyball Champion and the 2023 Class 1A Volleyball Player of the Year. She earned All-Area recognition for four consecutive seasons (2020-2024) and was named Area Tournament MVP in both basketball and volleyball, highlighting her rare versatility as a two-sport star.

On the AAU circuit, Austin competed with the Alabama Southern Starz on the Nike EYBL circuit under Director Doug Bush, gaining national exposure against elite competition.

Now at Alabama, Austin arrives with a championship pedigree, national recognition and a résumé that reflects sustained excellence. The daughter of Ricky and Dana Austin, and sister to Riley and Cooper, she carries with her not only a decorated past but the foundation of a basketball family built on winning.

Alabama's victory in the SEC tournament is its first since 2022. The Crimson Tide will now meet the Lady Vols in the SEC Tournament's second round at 7:30 p.m. CT on the SEC Network.

Chase Brumfield is the morning producer and writer for Tide 100.9. He is a recent graduate from Mississippi State University as a Communications Major. Follow Chase for more Alabama content on X at @cb3864.