Sarah Ashlee Barker sets Alabama single-game scoring record in tournament loss vs. Maryland

Sarah Ashlee Barker made history during Alabama‘s 111-108 loss to Maryland in double overtime during the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Monday. Totaling 45 points, she shattered the program’s single-game scoring record in a tournament game.

It also tied the fourth-highest scoring performance ever in an NCAA Tournament game, originally set by Indiana Fever star Kelsey Mitchell in 2016 when she was at Ohio State. It falls short of Lori Bauman’s 50 points in 1082, Sheryl Swoopes’ 47 in 1993 and Jayne Appel’s 46 in 2009.

Despite her historic performance, which included nailing a trio of free throws at the end of regulation to send the game to the first overtime period, the Crimson Tide fell just short in the finals seconds of second overtime. Still, Barker’s historic performance isn’t one that will be forgotten anytime soon by her teammates, or the Alabama fanbase. Fans can relive her highlights by watching the video below:

SARAH ASHLEE BARKER (3/24/25) 🙁 pic.twitter.com/mGNpCQZ12C

— @balapattyszn (@balapattyvids) March 24, 2025

Barker’s official stat line has the fifth-year senior scoring her 45 points on 17 of 25 shooting, including eight rebounds and three assists. Only 12 of those points came from beyond the arc as she totaled 49 minutes during the contest.

Amazingly, Barker wasn’t her team’s minutes leader, as her teammate Karly Weathers recorded 50 minutes on the court on Monday. This was matched by Maryland’s Sarah Te-Biasu as the game’s minutes leader. Both players played the entire game.

Still, Barker’s heroic performance came as she was fighting to keep her collegiate career alive for another game. A fifth-year senior, Barker has exhausted her eligibility and won’t be able to come back next season. She can hang her hat knowing that her illustrious career ends having rewritten the Crimson Tide record book.

Barker started her career playing for the Georgia Bulldogs. After not starting a single game ass a true freshman, she was placed in the starting lineup and never looked back. Barker transferred to her father, former Alabama quarterback Jay Barker’s alma mater for her junior year.

Her first season saw her average a respectable 6.9 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game. However, she has exploded onto the scene over the past two seasons. During her second season with Alabama, Barker averaged 16.8 points, 6.3 rebounds ans 2.9 assists. Those numbers only improved during her fifth year.

Now, she’ll not only sit in Alabama record books for the foreseeable future, but in the NCAA Tournament record books as well after her historic effort against the Terrapins.