Alabama
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (11/11/2026) — The Memphis Tigers erased a 16-point first-quarter deficit and handed the Alabama Crimson Tide a 75-70 defeat at the Elma Roane Fieldhouse on Wednesday, turning 26 Alabama turnovers into a second-half takeover before 1,036 fans.
Memphis shot 42 percent from the floor and held its composure down the stretch, completing one of the more striking comebacks of the early 2026 women's basketball season.
How It Happened
Alabama came out with purpose. Guard Ace Austin opened the scoring with a driving layup at 8:25, and the Crimson Tide built momentum quickly — Austin assisted on Amirah Anderson's 23-footer, then set up Tianna Chambers' 24-footer to extend the advantage to 8-2. Austin's own 24-foot three at 3:44 pushed the lead to 15-4.
Tamya Smith gave Memphis life with back-to-back threes from 25 and 24 feet to cut the deficit to 21-12, but Anderson's buzzer-beating 25-footer sent Alabama out of the first quarter ahead 28-12.
The Crimson Tide maintained its grip into the second. Aaliyah Roberson's driving layup just 30 seconds into the quarter made it 30-12, and Tierney Kelsey's three-pointer trimmed it to 34-20. Memphis continued to chip away across the final minutes, with Roberson's 24-footer at the half-ending buzzer drawing the score to 39-35 at the break.
Turning Point
The third quarter was Memphis' game to claim. After Anderson's driving layup pushed Alabama back in front 41-35, the Tigers responded with the sequence that decided the contest.
Ainaya Williams hit from 24 feet to close it to 41-38, then Jordan Hunter buried a 25-footer — assisted by Anjanae Richardson — to give Memphis its first lead of the night at 43-41. Richardson answered immediately with her own 24-foot three, Hunter assisting, to push the advantage to five.
Roberson hit from 25 feet to bring Alabama back within three at 48-45, but Memphis put it away. Daejah Richmond connected on a three with Richardson's help, Hunter then hit again from downtown, and a Kylie Torrence layup in the final seconds completed a 13-0 run that stretched the score from 51-45 to 61-50. The Crimson Tide walked into the fourth quarter facing an 11-point hole they had dug themselves into through the second half of the third.
Star of the Game
Daejah Richmond put together the most complete effort on the floor Wednesday. The Memphis forward posted a double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds, distributing five assists — several on the three-point possessions that powered the decisive third-quarter run. Richmond's own 24-foot three during that stretch was central to the surge, and her two free throws with 15 seconds remaining nailed the final margin at 75-70.
For Alabama, Ace Austin was tireless. The guard finished with 19 points, nine assists, and five rebounds — including back-to-back three-pointers late in the fourth that brought the Crimson Tide from down 19 to within two at 69-67 with under three minutes to play. Austin's 25-footer at 2:59 made it a one-possession game and put the Crimson Tide in position to steal the win. Anderson added 16 points, and Roberson contributed 10 to the effort.
What It Means
For Memphis, the ability to absorb a 16-point first-quarter deficit and respond with controlled, accurate basketball speaks to the Tigers' composure. Committing just 15 turnovers while forcing 26 from Alabama — both teams shooting 42 percent from the field — made the difference between a close loss and a five-point victory. Richmond's rebounding (12 boards to anchor a 30-rebound team effort) limited Alabama's second-chance opportunities throughout the second half.
For the Crimson Tide, the loss reflects the cost of unforced errors against a team capable of capitalizing on them. Alabama matched Memphis' field goal percentage and shot 41 percent from three — the offense functioned. What it could not sustain was the turnover gap, which gifted Memphis the extra possessions that fueled the comeback. Austin's fourth-quarter push showed Alabama has the talent to compete, but the Crimson Tide will need to protect the ball to convert close games into wins as the season develops.
