In West Palm Beach, Florida, Alabama secured a notable victory against No. 15 Michigan State, defeating them 82-67 during the West Palm Beach Classic. Aaliyah Nye was a standout performer, contributing 18 points, while Zaay Green added 17 to help the Crimson Tide improve their record to 11-1, effectively halting Michigan State’s impressive start of 11-1.
The game highlight came in the third quarter, where Alabama established significant control, extending their lead to as much as 22 points. Although Michigan State managed to close the gap to eight points with less than three minutes remaining, Alabama’s proficient free-throw shooting—making 11 of 14 in the final period and nine of 10 in the last three minutes—secured their victory.
In addition to Nye and Green, other key contributors for Alabama included Essence Cody with 16 points, Karly Weathers scoring 12, and Sarah Ashlee Baker chipping in with 11. This matchup marked Alabama’s first contest against a ranked opponent this season, although they previously faced California, who held a narrow victory over them and is now among the ranked teams.
For Michigan State, Julia Ayrault led the scoreline with 18 points, while Theryn Hallock added 14 and Grace VanSlooten contributed 10 points alongside nine rebounds. The game was characterized by high intensity, with 54 turnovers and 45 fouls across both teams, leading to a combined 46 free-throw attempts, of which they converted 35.
Alabama showcased impressive shooting, hitting 5 of 7 attempts from beyond the arc and 11 of 19 overall during the decisive third quarter, allowing them to stretch a two-point halftime lead into a commanding 62-41 advantage. A pivotal 14-0 scoring run was capped by Green’s three-pointer followed by a fastbreak layup, significantly tilting the momentum in Alabama’s favor, while Michigan State struggled with their accuracy, making only 1 of 10 shots in that quarter.
Although Ayrault and Hallock contributed nine points each in the fourth quarter for Michigan State, the team still faced challenges, finishing 9 of 16 from the floor while Alabama managed only 4 of 11, yet recorded 10 turnovers. The first quarter was tightly contested, with Alabama holding a slight 9-8 lead, and the teams combined for 45 points in a high-scoring second quarter, allowing Alabama to lead 32-30 at halftime. The game featured a total of eight ties and nine lead changes, reflecting the close competition.
Alabama’s next challenge will be against Richmond on Saturday, concluding their participation in the tournament. Meanwhile, Michigan State is set to return to Big Ten Conference action against Maryland on December 29.