Sara Ashley Barker's Record-Breaking Performance in NCAA Tournament
Although it came in a losing effort, Monday saw one of the greatest individual performances in Alabama basketball history—men’s or women’s.
During Alabama’s 111-108 double-overtime loss to Maryland in the second round of the 2025 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament, Sara Ashley Barker delivered the best game of her collegiate career in what turned out to be her final college appearance.
The 6-foot guard made 17 of her 25 shots and scored an incredible 45 points. The following week, her hometown of Birmingham would host the Sweet 16, and she battled valiantly to guide her team there.
When Alabama needed her the most, she stepped up in a major way. With just 0.7 seconds left on the clock, Barker calmly sank three crucial free throws to send the game into double overtime after she was fouled on a game-tying three-point attempt. In the final seconds, Alabama attempted to get the ball to Barker for another three-pointer to force a third overtime, but Maryland intercepted the pass, securing their victory.
While her team was unable to advance to face reigning national champions South Carolina, Barker’s performance will be remembered—not just by fans, but in the history books as well.
Most Points in a Single Game in Alabama History
Barker’s 45-point outing set a new record for the most points ever scored by an Alabama women’s basketball player in a single game. She shattered the previous record set by Jasmine Walker, who scored 41 points in a 92-78 victory over Auburn on February 14, 2021.
Before Monday, Barker was already among the program’s top single-game scorers. In a 91-74 victory over Kentucky last season, she scored 34 points, tying for the sixth-most points ever scored by an Alabama player in a game.
Here’s a look at the top scoring performances in Alabama women’s basketball history:
- Sara Ashley Barker: 45 points vs. Maryland, 2025
- Jasmine Walker: 41 points vs. Auburn, 2021
- Amy Lanham: 38 points vs. Florida, 1992
- Desha Simmons: 37 points vs. Troy, 2013
- Linda Burgess: 37 points vs. Loyola Chicago, 1991
- Shalonda Enis: 35 points vs. East Tennessee State, 1995
- Sara Ashley Barker: 34 points vs. Kentucky, 2024
- Shaffonte Myers: 34 points vs. Troy, 2013
- Shalonda Enis: 34 points vs. Georgia, 1995
- Linda Burgess: 34 points vs. UAB, 1991
- Cassandra Crampton: 34 points vs. LSU, 1983
Most Points in a Single Game in NCAA Tournament History
Barker’s 45-point performance wasn’t just a school record—it also etched her name into NCAA history.
Her scoring output tied for the fourth-most points ever scored in a single game in NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament history. It also set a new record for the most points ever scored in a March Madness game by an SEC player. Interestingly, two of the top five scoring performances have come against Maryland.
Here’s a look at the highest-scoring performances in NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament history:
- Lorrie Bauman, Drake: 50 points vs. Maryland, 1982
- Sheryl Swoopes, Texas Tech: 47 points vs. Ohio State, 1993
- Jayne Appel, Stanford: 46 points vs. Iowa State, 2009
- Sara Ashley Barker, Alabama: 45 points vs. Maryland, 2025
- Kelsey Mitchell, Ohio State: 45 points vs. West Virginia, 2016
- Candice Wiggins, Stanford: 44 points vs. UTEP, 2008
- Barbara Kennedy, Clemson: 43 points vs. Penn State, 1982
- Elizabeth Kitley, Virginia Tech: 42 points vs. Florida Gulf Coast, 2022
- Marissa Coleman, Maryland: 42 points vs. Vanderbilt, 2009
A Performance for the Ages
Despite Alabama’s season ending in heartbreak, Sara Ashley Barker’s legendary performance will forever be remembered. She not only changed the history books at her institution, but she also left her stamp on the historic stage of the NCAA Tournament. Although she is no longer a college student, her legacy will endure for years to come thanks to her record-breaking night.
