Hannah Barber has been one of the most consistent 3-point shooters in the history of the Alabama women's basketball program and she has the stat line to back it up. But few of those 3-pointers have been as important as her final shot Thursday night during the Crimson Tide's trip to Fayetteville.
Barber came around a screen and caught a pass from Loyal McQueen before rising and knocking down a 3-pointer from the left wing, giving Alabama a lead with less than 10 seconds to go in the game. One more defensive stop from the visitors finished off the game as Alabama walked away with a 69-66 victory over Arkansas.
Alabama (16-5, 5-3 SEC) responded well after suffering its biggest defeat of the season earlier this week at the hands of No. 4 LSU. The trip to Arkansas was sandwiched between two of Alabama's toughest games of the season with No. 1 South Carolina set to visit Tuscaloosa on Sunday.
The Crimson Tide used a 13-0 run to end the first quarter, capped by a 3-pointer from Barber, to push into the lead. Alabama led by as many as 12 points and kept the lead for the rest of the first half but Arkansas fought back, taking a 1-point lead on four different occasions in the third quarter.
After Alabama took control of the game in the final frame, the Razorbacks put together a comeback in the final two minutes, tying the game on a 3-pointer with 33 seconds to go. Barber made the game winner on the next possession.
Brittany Davis led the Crimson Tide with 22 points, shooting 9-of-15 from the field while knocking down four 3-pointers. Jada Rice was the only other Alabama player to reach double figures, scoring 12 points to go with a team-high seven rebounds.
Barber finished with 8 points to go with four steals and three assists. All nine players who played for Alabama scored at least two points in the win.
As a team, Alabama shot 50 percent from the field and 47.1 percent from beyond the arc. The Crimson Tide also finished 11-of-12 from the free throw line.
The visitors had to deal with foul trouble throughout the game, being whistled for 28 total fouls compared to just 14 called on the Razorbacks. Alabama had five players reach four fouls but no one fouled out of the game.
Arkansas (17-6, 4-4) was 18-of-23 from the free throw line. The Razorbacks had four different players reach double figures, led by Erynn Barnum who scored 20 points to go with nine rebounds.
Alabama will be back in action Sunday against the top-ranked Gamecocks. The game is scheduled to tip off at noon on ESPN2.