Alabama
12-1,0-0SEC
Richmond
9-4,0-0Atlantic 10
No. RV/24 Alabama Women’s Basketball Finishes Unbeaten at West Palm Beach Classic with 75-68 Victory over Richmond
12/21/2024 3:42:00 PM | Women's Basketball
The Crimson Tide went 2-0 during the holiday tournament to improve to 12-1 on the season
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - The No. RV/24 Alabama women's basketball team defeated Richmond 75-68 at the West Palm Beach Classic Saturday afternoon to go undefeated in the holiday tournament. The Crimson Tide, which captured an impressive 82-67 win over No. 15/17 Michigan State in the tournament's opening contest, improved to 12-1 to mark the best start to a season since 2016-17.
For the second-straight game, Alabama's starting five of Sarah Ashlee Barker, Essence Cody, Zaay Green, Aaliyah Nye and Karly Weathers finished in double figures to combine for 71 of the Tide's 75 total points on the day. Barker led the Tide with 23 points and four assists for her fourth 20-point outing of the season. Cody and Nye scored 14 points each, while Green and Weathers both posted 10 points.
Maggie Doogan led Richmond (9-4) with 15 points and four assists.
Head Coach Kristy Curry Comments
"Richmond is a really good team. They are as good offensively and as well coached as we'll see all season. Credit our kids though, there was a lot of grit, a lot of toughness and this was a gutsy win. We got some critical stops when we needed it the most, and had great balance across the offense. To have five [starters] again in double figures means we are at our best when we are collective like that. I'm really proud of our team for a tremendous win today."
Game Notes
- Alabama turned the ball over only eight times compared to Richmond's 17, while collecting 21 points off the Spiders' turnovers (21-10)
- The matchup featured 10 lead changes and four ties throughout, despite UA leading for nearly 28 minutes on the day
- UA finished with 18 assists on 24 made baskets in the contest, led by Zaay Green's five dimes while Sarah Ashlee Barker and Aaliyah Nye each had four helpers
- Across the two contests in the tournament, the Tide collected an impressive 38 assists on 52 total makes
- Green also led the Crimson Tide on the glass grabbing six rebounds as Barker added five boards to her performance.
- Richmond's 17 turnovers marks the 12th time in 13 games this season the Crimson Tide has forced 15 or more turnovers
- Nye and Essence Cody each started their 45th consecutive game for the Tide, as Cody has started every game in her Alabama career
- Alabama shot 46 percent from the floor (25-54), 43 percent from deep (10-23) and 88 percent from the line (15-17)
- In comparison, Richmond shot 47 percent from the field (24-51), 32 percent from three-point range (9-28) and 73 percent from the charity stripe (11-15)
How It Happened
- Alabama opened the game fast, jumping out to an early 7-0 lead in the first three minutes of action
- The Tide's fast start continued, taking a nine-point lead to the first media timeout however, Richmond battled back to close the first quarter going on a 13-6 run to cut UA's lead to one (21-20)
- Both squads picked up the pace in the second quarter as Alabama outscored Richmond 20-11, holding the Spiders scoreless over the final 4:26, to take a 10-point lead at the halftime break (41-31)
- Richmond opened the third by outsourcing Alabama 14-7 across the opening five minutes, cutting Alabama's lead to three at the under-five-minute media timeout
- The Spiders posted a strong defensive effort in the third, outscoring the Tide 22-10 to grab a two-point lead heading into the final period (53-51)
- Karly Weathers kickstarted the fourth for Alabama, scoring the first five points of the quarter to retake the lead
- The back-and-forth battle continued throughout the final 10 minutes of play, resulting in a tie game at 58-58 entering the final media timeout
- Trailing 65-64 with just over two minutes remaining, the Tide went on a game-changing 9-1 run to take a 73-66 lead with 14 seconds remaining
- Alabama outscored the Spiders 17-10 down the stretch to claim a seven-point win, helped by hitting 7-7 free throws inside the final two minutes to seal the victory
Up Next
- Following the holiday break, Alabama will host Jacksonville inside Coleman Coliseum on Sunday, Dec. 29
- The Crimson Tide and the Dolphins will tip off at 11 a.m. CT on SEC Network+
