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BIRMINGHAM — South Carolina women's basketball coach Dawn Staley was watching No. 5 seed Alabama vs. No. 4 Maryland in their double-overtime thriller in the second round of the NCAA Tournament in College Park, Maryland.
Staley, a three-time NCAA champion, was just as enamored by Sarah Ashlee Barker's performance as were others who witnessed the 6-foot guard drop 45 points, eight rebounds, three assists and three steals in the Crimson Tide's 111-108 double-overtime loss to Maryland.
"I was actually cheering for the SEC, because I know how hard it is in our league and I wanted our league to be rewarded for just being the best, most competitive league," Staley said. "That's just the SEC. But Maryland hung in there, they hung in there and they made an incredible comeback.
"(Sarah Ashlee) Barker, you got to give it up (to her). It's hard when someone you know is just pouring her heart out on to the court and you come up short. You want it for a player that exemplifies the competitive nature of who we are as women basketball players, coaches, enthusiast and participants."
SARAH ASHLEE BARKER: Who is Sarah Ashlee Barker? What to know of Alabama women's basketball star senior guard
SARAH ASHLEE BARKER: Sarah Ashlee Barker points record: Where Alabama star ranks in NCAA Tournament history
Barker made 17 of her 25 shots en route to putting up the most points in Alabama women's basketball history. Her 45 points were also the most scored by a player in the NCAA women's tournament since Ohio State's Kelsey Mitchell dropped 45 against West Virginia on March 20, 2016. The total tied for fourth in the tournament's history.
Barker, a Birmingham native, made three free throws with 0.7 seconds remaining to send the game to overtime after being fouled on a 3-point attempt. Alabama tried to run a similar play at the end of the second overtime, but the pass to Barker was cut off by Maryland as the Terrapins held on to win it.
Alabama finished the 2025 season 24-9. It marked the Crimson Tide's fourth consecutive 20-plus win season and the fourth time in the last five years it has reached the NCAA Tournament.
Staley texted Alabama coach Kristy Curry after the game.
"I did text Kristy and let her know, 'I'm sorry you had to lose that,'" Staley said. "She worked extremely hard, and that game is not indicative of their season."
No.1 seed South Carolina and No. 4 Maryland will tip off at 4 p.m. CT at Legacy Arena in the Sweet 16.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Dawn Staley was rooting for Sarah Ashlee Barker and Alabama vs Maryland
Continue reading...
Staley, a three-time NCAA champion, was just as enamored by Sarah Ashlee Barker's performance as were others who witnessed the 6-foot guard drop 45 points, eight rebounds, three assists and three steals in the Crimson Tide's 111-108 double-overtime loss to Maryland.
"I was actually cheering for the SEC, because I know how hard it is in our league and I wanted our league to be rewarded for just being the best, most competitive league," Staley said. "That's just the SEC. But Maryland hung in there, they hung in there and they made an incredible comeback.
"(Sarah Ashlee) Barker, you got to give it up (to her). It's hard when someone you know is just pouring her heart out on to the court and you come up short. You want it for a player that exemplifies the competitive nature of who we are as women basketball players, coaches, enthusiast and participants."
SARAH ASHLEE BARKER: Who is Sarah Ashlee Barker? What to know of Alabama women's basketball star senior guard
SARAH ASHLEE BARKER: Sarah Ashlee Barker points record: Where Alabama star ranks in NCAA Tournament history
Barker made 17 of her 25 shots en route to putting up the most points in Alabama women's basketball history. Her 45 points were also the most scored by a player in the NCAA women's tournament since Ohio State's Kelsey Mitchell dropped 45 against West Virginia on March 20, 2016. The total tied for fourth in the tournament's history.
Barker, a Birmingham native, made three free throws with 0.7 seconds remaining to send the game to overtime after being fouled on a 3-point attempt. Alabama tried to run a similar play at the end of the second overtime, but the pass to Barker was cut off by Maryland as the Terrapins held on to win it.
Alabama finished the 2025 season 24-9. It marked the Crimson Tide's fourth consecutive 20-plus win season and the fourth time in the last five years it has reached the NCAA Tournament.
Staley texted Alabama coach Kristy Curry after the game.
"I did text Kristy and let her know, 'I'm sorry you had to lose that,'" Staley said. "She worked extremely hard, and that game is not indicative of their season."
No.1 seed South Carolina and No. 4 Maryland will tip off at 4 p.m. CT at Legacy Arena in the Sweet 16.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Dawn Staley was rooting for Sarah Ashlee Barker and Alabama vs Maryland
Continue reading...
