Alabama Women’s Basketball Remains Undefeated at Home

TUSCALOOSA, Ala.- The Alabama Crimson Tide women's basketball team made a triumphant return to Coleman Coliseum on Sunday, facing off against the Murray State Racers.

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Having not played at home since Dec.2, the Crimson Tide were well aware of the excitement among fans for this matchup, and they certainly delivered, boosting their record to 10-1 and keeping their home winning streak intact.

The game started off challenging for the Crimson Tide, as they found themselves down 23-15 at the end of the first quarter, thanks to a 14-2 run by the Racers. However, the Crimson Tide turned in the second quarter with three crucial 3-pointers, highlighted by Karly Weathers' impressive five-point play, which included an and-one-three-pointer and a putback layup.

This offensive momentum propelled the Crimson Tide on a 13-2 run, allowing them to take a 34-30 lead with just two minutes left in the half. Eris Lester capped off the quarter with a 3-pointer, pushing the score to 37-32 to close the first half.

The Crimson Tide continued to build their lead, starting the third quarter with a 9-2 run, featuring layups from Sarah Ashlee Barker and a 3-pointer from Zaay Green, bringing the score to 46-34. With a flurry of 3-pointers and another layup, the Crimson Tide then extended their advantage to 21 points, finishing the third quarter ahead 61-40.

In the fourth quarter, Green caught fire, sinking three consecutive 3-pointers in the first three minutes. Both teams then traded baskets in the closing minutes but the Crimson Tide held onto their lead, sealing the victory with a final score of 90-63.

"Proud of our response after finals [exams]. As a coach, I think you try and adjust, and work and adapt on how we can put them in the best position to be ready for today. We looked like we might have been studying there for a few more extra minutes in the first quarter, but I thought for the majority of the game we held a team that's averaging 91 (points). Our goal was in the 50s. I think with four [minutes] to go, we had them in the fifties. So I'm really proud of our defensive effort. Everything starts for us when we can get stops and get our transition game going. Really proud of our team today, collectively, for a 40-minute effort," said Kristy Curry in a postgame press conference.

Up next, Alabama is set to travel to Florida for the West Palm Beach Classic on Dec. 20-21, where they will face the undefeated Michigan State Spartans on Dec.20 at 3:30 p.m. CT, available to watch on BallerTV.

Game Highlights:

•  Alabama achieved a remarkable feat by scoring 90 or more points in a game for the fifth time this season
• The Crimson Tide showed more strength in the paint, outscoring the Racers 42-30
• The Crimson Tide matched their season high with 12 blocked shots, replicating their performance against Norfolk State on Nov.14
• Barker shone with 21 points, marking her 10th game this season with double-digit scoring
• Nye had an impressive outing, hitting four 3-pointers out of five attempts, bringing her total to six games this season with at least four successful shots from beyond the arc
• Essence Cody continued her scoring streak, achieving double digits for the fourth consecutive game, while Green recorded her third game with over 20 points
• The Crimson Tide displayed excellent shooting, hitting 51% from the field (35-for-68), 44% from the 3-point range (13-for-29), and 87% from the free-throw line (7-for-8)
• This marks the fourth time this season that Alabama has shot over 40% from long distance.