TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Zaay Green stood out with an impressive performance, contributing 27 points and six assists as No. 19 Alabama triumphed over Florida with a score of 79-69 on Thursday evening. This victory marks the 13th consecutive win at home for Alabama.

With this win, Alabama (14-1) not only secured its first Southeastern Conference (SEC) opener since the 2021-22 season but also celebrated its best start in the history of the program, with only one loss so far against the now-ranked No. 20 California team.

The contest saw Alabama play without their top scorer, Sarah Ashlee Barker, who averages 16.1 points per game. Barker left the game just eight minutes before halftime due to an injury and did not return, requiring assistance from the athletic staff to leave the court.

Diana Collins contributed significantly with 12 points while Aaliyah Nye added 10 points to the scoreboard. In addition, Essence Cody not only scored nine points but also recorded an impressive 11 rebounds. Green’s shooting accuracy was notable, hitting 12 of her 22 attempts from the field, leading her team, which collectively shot 20 of 41.

On the Florida side, Liv McGill was a key player, scoring 18 points, while Ra Shaya Kyle achieved her ninth double-double of the season with 11 points and 13 rebounds. Both Jeriah Warren and Alexia Mobley also added 12 points each to Florida’s efforts.

The game began favorably for Alabama, which launched into a 19-5 lead, aided by six points from both Barker and Nye early in the action. By halftime, the Crimson Tide was leading 41-31. Throughout most of the second half, Alabama maintained a double-digit lead, with Florida managing to narrow the gap to just eight points with 2:30 remaining in the fourth quarter.

Looking ahead, Alabama will remain at home to face Missouri on Sunday, followed by a challenging stretch that includes three ranked teams: Texas, Mississippi, and South Carolina. Florida, meanwhile, will compete in another home game against Georgia on the same day.