Alabama
16-3,3-2SEC
No. 2 South Carolina
17-1,5-0SEC
No. 19/19 Alabama Falls to No. 2/2 South Carolina, 76-58
1/16/2025 9:44:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Three Crimson Tide players reach double figures, led by Zaay Green and Essence Cody who each scored 15 points
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The No. 19/19 Alabama women's basketball team (16-3, 3-2 SEC) fell, 76-58, to No. 2/2 South Carolina (17-1, 5-0 SEC) Thursday night inside Coleman Coliseum.
Both Essence Cody and Zaay Green led the Crimson Tide with 15 points apiece, while Aaliyah Nye had 12. Green also led the team with five rebounds, three assists and a pair of blocks. Cody matched Green with two blocks while also pulling down four boards. The Tide played without team captain Sarah Ashlee Barker, who missed her third consecutive game with a lower leg injury.
Joyce Edwards and Chloe Kitts led the Gamecocks, with Edwards posting a game-high 21 points and Kitts recording a double-double (10 points, 13 rebounds).
Head Coach Kristy Curry Comments
"We just got beat by a very good South Carolina team tonight. I think they do a good job of making you pay for mistakes. We did a good job of taking care of the basketball, with nine turnovers and nine assists, but I thought we had some errors as far as our execution. I thought they got to the free throw line late and converted, so credit them. I thought our kids competed and battled. The perspective on this is that they all count the same, and our response is always what we talk about - the good, bad, happy and sad. I know that our response will be with toughness and grit on the road at Arkansas."
Game Notes
- With three steals, Karly Weathers surpassed 100 career steals. Weathers currently averages 1.7 steals per game through 19 games this season.
- Alabama 51-34 on the night, but force USC into 15 turnovers to result in a 15-9 edge in points off turnovers
- Green's 15-point performance marks her 17th game of the season scoring in double figures.
- Essence Cody (15 points) and Aaliyah Nye (12 points) recorded their 11th and 16th game, respectively in double-figure scoring
- Alabama shot 32 percent from the floor (22-of-68), 18 percent from deep (4-of-22) and 62 percent from the line (10-of-16)
- In comparison, South Carolina shot 44 percent from the field (27-of-61), 15 percent from three-point range (3-of-20) and 93 percent from the charity stripe (13-of-14)
- USC's bench outscored UA's reserves, 43-2
- The Gamecocks' 15 percent from three-point range marks the team's lowest percentage from deep on the season
How It Happened
- South Carolina opened the game, outscoring Alabama 10-2 over the first five-plus minutes of action to force a time out
- Both teams traded baskets before the Gamecocks added nine points at the end of the first quarter (21-12)
- UA opened the second quarter on an 11-4 run, sparked by Zaay Green and Aaliyah Nye, to trim the lead to 27-23
- The Gamecocks responded with a 10-7 spurt to push the lead to eight points at the half, 38-30
- South Carolina opened the scoring in the third quarter, reclaiming a nine-point lead at the second media timeout (47-38)
- Both teams continued to battle to close the third quarter, as USC closed the frame with a six-point lead, 54-48
- South Carolina gained offensive momentum quickly in the fourth quarter, quickly pushing the lead back to eight points at the fourth quarter media timeout
- The Gamecocks connected on 10-11 from the charity stripe in the quarter, helping USC post a 17-5 run over the final six and half minutes of action to result in the final score
Up Next
- Alabama will travel to Fayetteville, Ark., to take on the Arkansas Razorbacks on Sunday afternoon
- The Crimson Tide and Razorbacks will tip off at 4 p.m. CT on SEC Network
