COLLEGE PARK, Md. — Aaliyah Nye scored 23 points and Zaay Green added 22 to propel the fifth-seeded Alabama Crimson Tide to an 81-67 victory over the 12th-seeded Green Bay Phoenix on Saturday.
This significant win for the Crimson Tide (24-8) halted Green Bay’s impressive 22-game winning streak, advancing Alabama to the second round of the tournament, where they’ll face fourth-seeded Maryland on Monday. Maddy Schreiber led Green Bay (29-6) with 14 points.
Throughout much of the first half, Green Bay kept the score relatively tight against Alabama. However, the Horizon League champions surrendered six consecutive points as the second quarter came to a close, putting them behind 38-29 at halftime.
“I have so much respect for those young women from Green Bay. They are everything that is so good about our game,” Alabama coach Kristy Curry remarked. “Certainly want to make sure that everyone understands what a great basketball team we beat today — the utmost respect — but I am so proud of our locker room. I’m so proud of our team.”
With their highest tournament seed since 1999, Alabama is eyeing another March Madness milestone. The team hasn’t reached the Sweet 16 since 1998.
Alabama expanded their lead to 13 points in the third quarter. Green Bay managed to cut the lead to five points early in the fourth quarter. However, Nye hit a critical 3-pointer to repel the Phoenix’s rally.
Nailing four 3-pointers in this game, Nye brought her season total to 109, surpassing her previous school record of 108. She also holds the program’s career record with 387 three-pointers.
“I always say consistency, and don’t get too high or too low,” Nye commented. “I’m just blessed … to be a part of this program and this team, that’s able to get me the ball.”
There were significant takeaways from the game. Green Bay, known as one of the more formidable mid-major programs in the nation, maintained their strength despite transitioning to a new coach, Kayla Karius, after longtime coach Kevin Borseth retired. Yet, the team couldn’t contain Alabama’s strong offensive performance.
Meanwhile, Alabama passed a crucial first-round test. Even though the team’s top scorer, Sarah Ashlee Barker, had just nine points, the Crimson Tide still achieved the highest score by any opponent against Green Bay since the Phoenix encountered Kansas State at the start of the season. Barker did contribute significantly otherwise, recording eight assists and seven rebounds.
Alabama’s size was evident on the court, both inside and at the guard positions.
“I think it did bother us, and you could tell with five turnovers in the first quarter, how the passes didn’t look as open as maybe they normally do,” Karius said. “That’s part of playing against teams like this and getting in the NCAA Tournament and playing the best of the best.”
The Crimson Tide outmaneuvered Green Bay 40-22 in the paint and improved their 3-point shooting in the fourth quarter, going 4 of 6 after a less stellar 6 of 21 performance through the first three quarters.
A key moment in the game was just before halftime when Nye earned a three-shot foul and calmly sank all three free throws, increasing Alabama’s lead to nine points.
Looking ahead, Alabama will face Maryland, a team they encountered in the NCAA Tournament four years ago, where Maryland won convincingly with a score of 100-64 in the second round.
