Alabama
16-2,3-1SEC
Ole Miss
11-5,2-2SEC
Aaliyah Nye’s Career-High 32 Points Propels No. 18/19 Alabama Past Ole Miss, 84-78
1/12/2025 6:52:00 PM | Women's Basketball
The Crimson Tide defeated the Rebels to collect its third Southeastern Conference win in four games to open league play
OXFORD, Miss. - The No. 18/19 Alabama women's basketball team (16-2, 3-1 SEC) defeated Ole Miss (11-5, 2-2 SEC), 84-78, Sunday afternoon in Oxford, Miss. Aaliyah Nye led all scorers with a career-high 32 points to aid in the Crimson Tide's first Southeastern Conference road victory.
Nye's 32-point performance, which featured seven made three-pointers, set a new career-best and marked her second game scoring 30-or-more points on the year. Nye and Zaay Green (27 points, nine assists) led the Tide on offense as the duo combined for 59 points of the team's 84 total. Diana Collins set a new career-high 11 points with three assists.
Green (seven rebounds) and Essence Cody (six rebounds) led Alabama on the glass. Karly Weathers paced the Tide on defense with three steals and one block, as UA forced 13 turnovers. Cody added two blocks and one steal, while Green tallied a block and a steal.
Starr Jacobs led Ole Miss with a double-double, scoring 21 points and grabbing 12 rebounds.
Head Coach Kristy Curry Comments
"I'm just really proud of the toughness that our kids show today. There was an amazing crowd and I appreciate everybody coming out to support SEC women's basketball. Ole Miss is a great team, but credit our kids. A lot of toughness, a lot of road grit today and I'm really proud of them."
Game Notes
- Alabama made 12 three-pointers on the day, marking the eighth game this season the Tide has made 10 or more
- Zaay Green recorded her seventh 20-plus point game this season
- Aaliyah Nye made seven threes in a game for the third time this season,
- With her seven threes, Nye is tied at the top of the NCAA for the most games with seven-plus made three-pointers
- The Crimson Tide saw two players score 20-plus points (Nye, 32 and Green, 27) in the same game for the first time since Dec. 15, 2024 (vs. Murray State)
- Green earned a new season-high nine assists as she recorded six-plus assists in a game for the fifth time this season
- Diana Collins recorded a career-high 11 points, shooting 4-of-6 from the floor
- Alabama shot 56 percent from the floor (28-of-50), 63 percent from deep (12-of-19) and 59 percent from the line (16-of-27)
- In comparison, Ole Miss shot 43 percent from the field (29-of-68), 33 percent from three-point range (7-of-21) and 93 percent from the charity stripe (13-of-14)
How It Happened
- Ole Miss opened the game with a quick 7-0 run however, Alabama responded by outscoring the Rebels 14-10 over the closing eight and half minutes of the first quarter, to cut the Rebels' lead to three points (17-14)
- The Crimson Tide swapped the lead with Ole Miss twice as both teams continued to trade baskets to the second-quarter media timeout where Ole Miss reclaimed a one-point lead (24-23)
- Alabama surged back with an 8-0 run over the final three-plus minutes of the second quarter, taking a four-point lead to the locker room at the half (31-27)
- The Crimson Tide started the third quarter on a 12-6 run over Ole Miss grabbing an eight-point lead (43-35) at the first media timeout of the second half
- UA found its groove, closing the third quarter on a 13-9 run over the Rebels to take a 10-point lead (56-49)
- Alabama's three-point shooting got hot in the fourth quarter, going 4-5 from deep to open the frame
- The Crimson Tide clinched the game with 10 points from the free throw line over the final 1:56 to seal the eight-point win
Up Next
- Alabama will welcome the reigning NCAA National Champions in No. 2 South Carolina on Thursday, Jan. 12 inside Coleman Coliseum
- The Crimson Tide and Gamecocks will tip off at 6 p.m. CT on SEC Network+
