The Alabama A&M women’s basketball team opened their regular season by making history as it recorded the highest attendance that the AAMU Event Center has seen in a women’s game. Senior guard Kalia Walker paced the Bulldog offense with 13 points in the 84-59 loss to the No.24 Alabama Crimson Tide.
Thursday night’s headlining contest notched another AAMU Event Center first: The Crimson Tide were the first Southeastern Conference women’s team to be hosted in the arena.
Senior Alisha Wilson led the defense with 12 rebounds, two steals, and one block. AAMU held the Crimson Tide to just 15 points in the fourth quarter, while the Maroon and White scored their best quarter, 21 points.
Alabama saw four players in double figures, with Sarah Ashlee Barker leading the way with 19 points, seven rebounds, and three steals. University of Arkansas Pine-Bluff transfer Zaay Green added 14 points, six rebounds, and two steals for the Crimson Tide.
Alabama A&M played in front of the largest crowd inside the AAMU Event Center for a women’s game.
Attendance tonight: 5,639. Largest attendance for Alabama A&M women’s basketball game inside the #AAMU event center!@FOX54News @theswac @FromTheHill1875 @HBCUSiriusXM142 @TheYardHBCU https://t.co/mgPDEVwB4D
— Mo Carter (@MoCarterFOX54) November 8, 2024
The Crimson Tide led by as many as three for the first four minutes, but a jumper from Wilson gave the Bulldogs an 11-10 lead at the first media timeout.
The contest tied at 14 all before the Crimson Tide went on an 8-1 run to end the first quarter, ahead 20-15
Alabama extended its lead to seven before going on a 13-0 run with 2:30 remaining in the half
Walker added six more points by way of three-pointers to send the game to the break, with the Crimson Tide ahead 46-25
Kourtney Rittenberry scored the first five points for the Bulldogs in the third quarter, but Alabama ballooned their lead to 61-30 after an 8-0 run with six minutes remaining. The Crimson Tide led by 31 going into the final frame.
AAMU outscored the Tide 21-15 in the fourth quarter, paced by Tia Harvey’s five points.
Courtesy: Alabama A&M Athletics
