[URL unfurl="true"]https://rolltide.com/news/2025/1/2/womens-basketball-no-19-20-alabama-tops-florida-79-69-in-sec-opener[/URL]
The Crimson Tide defeated the Gators, marking its first SEC opener win since 2022
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The No. 19/20 Alabama women's basketball opened Southeastern Conference play with a 79-69 win over Florida, Thursday night at Coleman Coliseum. The win marks the Crimson Tide's first SEC opener victory since the 2021-22 season.
Zaay Green led the Crimson Tide (14-1, 1-0 SEC) offensively, shooting 54 percent (12-22) from the field. Green's 27-point performance marked the fifth game this season the graduate has scored 20-plus points in a game. Diana Collins scored a career-high 12 points from 100 percent field goal shooting, while Aaliyah Nye added 10 points with three assists.
Just shy of a double-double with nine points, Essence Cody dominated down low, grabbing 11 rebounds, with three blocks and a steal. Green and Nye each added a pair of steals to the team's total, resulting in 15 turnovers from the Gators.
Liv McGill scored 18 points to lead Florida (9-6, 0-1 SEC), as Alexia Mobley and Jeriah Warren each scored 12 points.
"I'm just really proud of our team. Any win in this league is always hard and I thought we embraced hard tonight. I thought we had some adversity there and but we just continued to let our runs be a little longer. We showed a lot of grit and toughness. I thought Diana [Collins] really came in, Eris [Lester] and JeAnna [Cunningham] really helped us. Our bench was outstanding, Diana had a career-high. I'm just so proud of our team tonight because it's always good to start SEC play 1-0, because they all count the same. You've got to defend your home court in this league, and we're fortunate to do that tonight against a good Florida team."
Game Notes
- The Crimson Tide did not trail in the contest, leading for 39:23 of the 40 minutes
- With the win, Alabama picked up its first SEC opener since Jan. 2, 2022 after the Tide defeated Auburn, 56-53, in Tuscaloosa
- The Crimson Tide outscored Florida in the paint 36-28
- Diana Collins scored a career-high 12 points, shooting 100 percent from the floor
- Alabama scored 19 points off Florida's 15 turnovers
- UA shot 50 percent from the floor (32-63), 43 percent from deep (10-23) and 45 percent from the line (5-11)
- In comparison, Florida shot 46 percent from the field (26-56), 50 percent from three-point range (9-18) and 57 percent from the charity stripe (8-14)
How It Happened
- Kristy Curry's squad opened conference play with a quick start on offense, starting with a 7-0 run in the first two minutes
- Alabama only continued its hot start, taking a 14-5 lead in the first five minutes of the game
- Following the media timeout, the Crimson Tide continued to remain in control offensively with Barker, Green and Nye combining for 17 points in the first period (21-12)
- The second quarter opened with both squads trading baskets for the first three minutes, but the Crimson Tide remained ahead
- Eventually, Florida clawed its way back with a 6-0 run in the period, but Alabama responded with a 6-0 run of its own to keep the double-digit lead (37-25)
- Green found her groove offensively as well, scoring six of the Crimson Tide's final eight points of the half to hold the lead at the break (41-31)
- After the third quarter started with traded baskets once again, Alabama went on an 11-0 run, featuring eight of those points from Green, to push the lead to a 20-point margin (57-37)
- Following a 6-0 run by the Gators to close out the third period, the Crimson Tide remained in front going into the final quarter (62-46)
- Florida found some offensive momentum quickly in the fourth quarter, cutting the lead down to single digits with over three minutes remaining (74-65)
- However, a pair of layups by Green and a free throw by Essence Cody helped Alabama keep its distance in the closing minutes to secure the victory (79-69)
Up Next
- Alabama returns to Coleman Coliseum on Sunday, Jan. 5 to host Missouri
- The Crimson Tide and Tigers will tipoff at 2 p.m. CT on SEC Network+
