No. 20 Tennessee defeated No. 21 Alabama 70-59 in a key SEC women's basketball matchup on January 18. Forward Janiah Barker exited the game in the fourth quarter after an apparent facial injury, raising concerns for the Lady Vols. Coach Kim Caldwell provided no immediate update on Barker's condition postgame.
In a hard-fought SEC contest at Coleman Coliseum in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, the No. 20 Tennessee Lady Vols improved to 13-3 overall and 5-0 in conference play with a 70-59 victory over the No. 21 Alabama Crimson Tide, who fell to 17-3 and 3-3 in the SEC. This marked Tennessee's first ranked win of the season.
The game took a concerning turn with 6:28 remaining in the fourth quarter when senior forward Janiah Barker went down in visible pain after appearing to be hit in the face during play. She remained on the floor for several minutes before walking off under her own power and did not return. Prior to her exit, Barker contributed significantly with a double-double: 10 points, 11 rebounds, two assists, and two blocks in 26 minutes of action.
Barker has been a cornerstone for Tennessee this season, averaging 14.5 points, 6.6 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 1.3 steals per game while shooting 47.4% from the field and 30.5% from three-point range.
Following the win, Lady Vols head coach Kim Caldwell addressed the media but had no update on Barker's status. "I have no idea. You guys probably know more than me," Caldwell said. "I went back to the huddle, continued coaching, and didn’t even know what the call was. And so, as soon as I get back into the locker room, we’ll check." Caldwell noted she had not yet checked on Barker in the locker room before the press conference.
The victory highlights Tennessee's strong start in SEC play, but Barker's potential absence could impact their momentum moving forward.
