GREENVILLE, S.C. (Interstat) — The Alabama Crimson Tide used a dominant fourth-quarter surge to pull away from the Missouri Tigers and secure a 65-48 victory in a Southeastern Conference women’s basketball tournament game Wednesday night at the Bi-Lo Center.

In a contest defined by defensive intensity and offensive struggles for long stretches, Alabama broke open a tight game with a 24-point final period, advancing its postseason run while ending Missouri’s season. The Crimson Tide improved to 22-9 overall, while the Tigers finished at 16-16.

The game’s pivotal turning point arrived early in the fourth quarter with Alabama clinging to a 41-38 lead. Guard Ace Austin, who came off the bench to provide a critical spark, ignited a game-deciding run. In a span of just over a minute, Austin buried three consecutive three-pointers. The first, assisted by Ta’Mia Scott, came at the 9:40 mark. After a Missouri turnover, she connected again on a step-back three, assisted by Karly Weathers, with 8:57 left. Following another Tigers turnover, Austin struck for a third time, this time off a feed from Waiata Jennings, pushing the Alabama lead to 50-38 with 8:36 remaining.

That explosive 9-0 personal run from Austin transformed a precarious three-point edge into a commanding 12-point advantage from which Missouri could not recover. The Tigers, who had battled to stay within striking distance through three quarters, saw their offensive woes continue as they managed only 11 points in the final period against an energized Alabama defense.

The first half set the tone for a defensive battle. Alabama led 13-9 after a disjointed first quarter and extended its lead to 31-20 by halftime. Missouri’s offense found a rhythm in the third quarter, outscoring Alabama 17-10 behind the interior work of Jordana Reisma. The Tigers cut the deficit to four points on several occasions and entered the final quarter down just 41-38, setting the stage for Austin’s decisive flurry.

Reisma led all Missouri scorers with 15 points, adding a block and a steal in 29 minutes. Grace Slaughter contributed 11 points and a team-high 37 minutes in the losing effort. For Alabama, Austin’s 14 points in just 16 minutes proved to be the difference-maker. Diana Collins added 13 points, while Ta’Mia Scott and Essence Cody chipped in 12 and 10 points, respectively. Scott also recorded three blocks, and Weathers directed the offense with six assists.

Alabama’s defense was relentless throughout, forcing 21 Missouri turnovers and blocking seven shots. The Tigers shot poorly from the field, a recurring theme in their recent schedule which included losses to several ranked SEC opponents. The Crimson Tide also struggled with its shooting but capitalized on second-chance opportunities and timely scoring bursts.

The game was played before a crowd of 5,072 at the neutral site. With the victory, Alabama moves on to face Tennessee in the next round of the tournament on Thursday. Missouri’s season concludes with a .500 record, having lost five of its final six games, all against conference foes.

The most important part of the game was unquestionably Ace Austin’s sudden and devastating three-point barrage to begin the fourth quarter. With the outcome still very much in doubt and Missouri having gathered momentum from a strong third quarter, Austin entered and single-handedly changed the game’s complexion in a 64-second span. Her trio of long-range shots broke the Tigers’ spirit and provided the Crimson Tide with an insurmountable cushion, transforming a tense, defensive struggle into a comfortable victory. That sequence exemplified the impact of a bench player providing instant offense at the most critical juncture, ultimately defining the tournament contest.