Alabama Upsets Green Bay, Advances in NCAA Women’s Tournament

COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) — The fifth-seeded Alabama Crimson Tide defeated the 12th-seeded Green Bay Phoenix 81-67 in the first round of the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament on Saturday, marking the end of Green Bay’s impressive 22-game winning streak.

Aaliyah Nye led Alabama with 23 points while Zaay Green contributed 22. This victory advances the Crimson Tide (24-8) to face fourth-seeded Maryland on Monday. Maddy Schreiber scored 14 points for Green Bay, who finished the season at 29-6.

In a tightly contested first half, the Phoenix maintained close scores but faltered at the end of the second quarter, allowing Alabama to close the half with a 6-0 run, taking a 38-29 lead into the locker room. “I have so much respect for those young women from Green Bay. They are everything that is so good about our game,” said Alabama coach Kristy Curry. “Certainly, I 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.”

Alabama extended their lead to 13 points in the third quarter, but the Phoenix narrowed the gap to five points early in the fourth. Nye’s timely three-pointer helped stabilize Alabama’s offense. With four three-pointers in the game, she set a new school record for most three-pointers in a season with 109, surpassing her own mark of 108 from the previous campaign. “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.”

The Phoenix, under first-year head coach Kayla Karius, faced an uphill battle against Alabama. Despite a season filled with triumphs, Green Bay struggled to contain the Crimson Tide’s offensive prowess, which outscored them 40-22 in the paint. Alabama’s top scorer, Sarah Ashlee Barker, recorded nine points along with eight assists and seven rebounds. “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 reflected on the challenge of facing a higher-seeded team.

The Crimson Tide’s shooting improved in the fourth quarter, hitting four out of six three-point attempts after a rocky start of six for 21 prior. Alabama ended the half strong, with Nye drawing a three-shot foul and successfully converting all three free throws, propelling them to a nine-point lead at halftime. Alabama and Maryland previously met in the NCAA Tournament four years ago, where Maryland won decisively 100-64 in the second round.