Alabama
3-0,0-0SEC
Troy
0-3,0-0Sun Belt
No. 24/25 Alabama Propels Past Troy 94-71 Sunday
11/10/2024 6:01:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Head coach Kristy Curry earned her 200th win with the Crimson Tide with the victory
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The No. 24/25 Alabama women's basketball team defeated Troy, 94-71, Sunday afternoon inside Coleman Coliseum. With the win, Crimson Tide head coach Kristy Curry picked up her 200th win at The Capstone.
Alabama's (3-0) starting five all finished in double-figures, including Zaay Green (24), Aaliyah Nye (18), Karly Weathers (14), Sarah Ashlee Barker (12) and Essence Cody (10). Along with her team-leading 24 points, Green collected a pair of assists and a steal, while Barker added four steals and three assists.
For the second consecutive game, Barker and Cody both led Alabama with eight boards with Christabel Ezumah (7) and Weathers (5) contributing a combined 12 rebounds in the Tide's win.
Troy was led by Ashley Baez's team-leading 14 points, while Brianna Jackson collected eight rebounds for the Trojans.
Head Coach Kristy Curry Comments
Overall thoughts
"Just number one, (we) appreciate our crowd. I thought we had a great Sunday crowd. Just want to thank every fan who came out, and then a big shout out to Crimson Chaos. We hope they'll come back on Wednesday when we play a Norfolk State team that just won at Missouri, so they're very talented, and so it's going to be another great opportunity for us. We have back-to-back games on Wednesday and Thursday, which simulates our tournament in Florida for a tournament (Emerald Coast Classic), and then it helps us prepare for the SEC tournament. Those are designed for a reason to put us in back-to-back days and really appreciate our crowd. I loved our balance today, to have five in double figures. Really a great team effort today."
On her 200th win at Alabama
"Well, first of all, I didn't realize it. I'm just thankful for every player that suited up, every staff member that's been a part. It's not anything I think about, it's more just, how can we win the next one? It's been amazing to be able to do a lot of things, but that wouldn't happen without a lot of other people. So, I'm just glad we got the win today against a good Troy team that's going to have a lot of success in their league."
Game Notes
- With the 94-71 win, Head coach Kristy Curry collected her 200th win at Alabama
- Curry joins former head coach Rick Moody as the only two head coaches in program history to hit the double century mark
- The Crimson Tide held the lead for 38:21 of the 40-minute contest
- After Troy scored the first basket of the day, Alabama went on a 16-2 run over 3:26 minutes in the first quarter and would not trail the rest of the way
- The Tide's starting five of Zaay Green, Aaliyah Nye, Karly Weathers, Sarah Ashlee Barker and Essence Cody combined to score 78 of the team's 94 points
- Additionally, three UA players earned season highs in points, including Green, Weathers and Cody
- The Tide forced 19 turnovers, collecting nine steals in the contest, to result in a 29-7 advantage in points off turnovers
- Alabama shot 43 percent (31-of-71) from the floor, 31 percent (10-of-32) from deep and 62 percent (22-of-35) from the line
- In comparison, Troy shot 33 percent (25-of-75) from the field, 30 percent (8-of-27) from range and 72 percent (13-of-18) from the charity stripe
- The Tide outscored the Trojans 40-30 in the paint and 24-16 in fast break points
How it Happened
- The Crimson Tide opened the game with a 16-2 run over the first four minutes (3:26)
- Alabama held an eight-point lead after the first quarter (25-17)
- The Tide forced five turnovers and made five three-pointers in the first quarter
- Alabama led the majority of the first half thanks in large part to 11 assists on 17 made baskets along with 14 fastbreak points
- Aaliyah Nye (14) and Sarah Ashlee Barker (12) led in first-half scoring, combining for 26 of Alabama's 50 total points in the first half
- Nye ended the first half going 4-7 from deep, which included three treys in the first quarter
- Alabama forced six turnovers in the third quarter to end the quarter with 68 points compared to Troy's 52 points
- At the end of the third quarter, Nye led the scoring for Alabama (18) alongside Zaay Green in a close second with 17
- The Tide's offense continued into the final quarter, posting 26 points compared to the Trojans' 19, propelling Alabama to a 62-point lead (94-71)
Next Up
- Alabama returns to Coleman Coliseum on Wednesday night for the first of back-to-back home games
- The Crimson Tide will host Norfolk State at 6 p.m. CT on Wednesday night, followed by welcoming Alcorn State for a 6 p.m. CT tipoff Thursday night
- Both games will be televised on SEC Network+
