Alabama
NEW ORLEANS, La. (11/07/2026) — Ace Austin scored 24 points to lead the Alabama Crimson Tide to a 68-63 road victory over the Tulane Green Wave at the Avron B. Fogelman Arena in the Devlin Fieldhouse on Saturday, delivering a performance that swung several critical moments in Alabama's favor.
The game featured five ties and one lead change before the Crimson Tide ultimately prevailed, with Austin's free throws in the final seconds sealing the outcome.
How It Happened
Alabama wasted no time establishing a perimeter attack. Tianna Chambers opened the scoring with a 27-foot three-pointer 24 seconds into the first quarter, and Amirah Anderson followed 38 seconds later with another long-range make to push the lead to 6-0. Tulane's Ja'Kyah Smith answered with a three to cut it to 6-5, but Anderson connected from 26 feet again at 7:31 — assisted by Austin — to restore Alabama's cushion.
The first quarter closed strongly for the Crimson Tide. Austin buried a 24-foot triple with 2:49 left, and after Khadee Hession pulled Tulane to 14-20 from 25 feet with 1:04 remaining, Naomi Jones finished a layup in the final seconds to send Alabama into the second quarter with a 22-14 lead.
Tulane began chipping away from there. Hession connected again from long range early in the second period, and the Green Wave gradually trimmed Alabama's advantage from double digits to single figures. Austin's 24-foot three-pointer with 41 seconds left in the half — set up by Kylie Torrence — left Alabama ahead 38-36 at the break, though Tulane had demonstrated the ability to make this a game.
Kanija Daniel opened the third quarter with a 14-foot jumper at 9:23 to tie the contest at 38-38, bringing the arena to life. Alabama answered decisively. Austin took another Torrence assist and buried a 23-foot three at 7:32, pushing the Crimson Tide back in front 47-39 and triggering an extended Alabama advantage.
Tulane refused to fold in the fourth quarter. With 3:59 remaining, Austin knocked down a 23-foot three to make it 62-58 — only for Daniel to answer immediately with a 23-foot three of her own, assisted by Smith, to trim the deficit to one at 61-62 with 3:41 left. Alabama steadied, and Austin delivered two free throws with nine seconds on the clock to push the lead to 68-63 and extinguish any remaining Tulane hope.
Turning Point
Austin's three-pointer at 7:32 of the third quarter was the contest's decisive moment. Daniel had just tied the game at 38 apiece and the Green Wave carried the momentum of a home crowd, but Austin immediately answered from 23 feet to push Alabama up 47-39 — an eight-point swing that redefined the final 20 minutes. Alabama never trailed after that basket.
Star of the Game
Ace Austin's 24-point, seven-rebound, four-assist performance shaped the outcome from the opening minute through the closing seconds. She gave Alabama early momentum with a first-quarter three, restored a lead Tulane had just erased with the third-quarter answer, and converted both free throws in the final nine seconds when the margin needed protecting.
Amirah Anderson provided crucial support with 12 points and five rebounds, while Naomi Jones finished with 10 points and eight rebounds. Mykelle Richards added eight points and five rebounds.
For Tulane, Hession led the Green Wave with 19 points, connecting from beyond the arc multiple times to keep the game within reach. Daniel delivered 17 points, six rebounds, and four assists, and Edina Strausz recorded a double-double with 13 points and 13 rebounds — a performance that gave Tulane the interior presence to stay competitive.
What It Means
Alabama picks up a road victory against an opponent that made every possession matter. Despite committing 22 turnovers — eight more than Tulane — the Crimson Tide generated enough offense from the perimeter, connecting on 11 three-pointers on the night, to hold on when the Green Wave closed to within one with under four minutes remaining. The win demonstrates Alabama's ability to respond to pressure moments away from home.
For Tulane, the defeat came in a game the Green Wave kept competitive to the final possession despite shooting 28% from the field and 17% from three. Hession, Daniel, and Strausz's individual efforts kept the Green Wave threatening through four quarters — a foundation to build on despite the five-point final margin.
