Naomi Jones Shines With Her First Double-Double For Alabama

Naomi Jones announced herself in a big way. Recording the first double-double of her collegiate career, the young forward delivered a glimpse of the impact she’s capable of making as her role continues to grow with Alabama women’s basketball.

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The Crimson Tide weathered an early challenge from Tulane before taking control of Wednesday night’s matchup at Coleman Coliseum. After trading baskets in the opening quarter and sitting tied at 9-9 midway through the period, Alabama closed strong to take a 22-15 lead after one.

Alabama continued to create separation in the second quarter, building a 39-23 halftime advantage behind strong defensive pressure and balanced scoring. Ace Austin and Jones led the Tide at the break with eight points a piece, as Alabama forced turnovers and dictated the tempo on both ends of the floor.

The Tide put the game away in the third quarter. Diana Collins opened the half with a 3-pointer, and Alabama never looked back. Holding Tulane to just seven points in the period, the Crimson Tide carried a 60-40 lead into the fourth, punctuated by Ta’Mia Scott’s buzzer-beating triple. Alabama cruised the rest of the way, maintaining control until the final horn.

With the win, Alabama improved to 13-0 on the season. The victory marked the Crimson Tide’s second of the week after defeating Sam Houston 73-36 on Tuesday night.

Jones, a Jackson native, has made her presence known this season, particularly with the absence of Essence Cody. Against Tulane, Jones posted 11 points and 10 rebounds, showcasing her ability to impact the game on both ends of the court. Since earning her first career start on Dec. 7, Jones has scored in double figures in four consecutive games, continuing to establish herself as a reliable option in Alabama’s frontcourt.

Jones credited her confidence and teammates for her recent success.

I definitely feel like I am being more confident and looking for my shot more than passing. I am the type of person that likes to play defense. I give all the credit to my teammates, just for instilling me with confidence that I can be a scorer also.

A highly regarded in-state prospect, Jones arrived at Alabama following a decorated high school career that established her as one of the top post players in the state. A four-star recruit ranked No. 87 nationally by ESPNW, she was a 2023 McDonald’s All-American nominee and competed in the 2023 Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Basketball Classic as one of just 12 student-athletes selected to represent the state of Alabama. She also earned an invitation to the ASGR Top Ten All-American Camp, further solidifying her national profile.

At the high school level, Jones was a two-time AHSAA Class 4A First Team All-State and All-Region selection, a three-time All-Area honoree, and a Third Team AHSAA Class 5A selection as a freshman. She competed in the 2021 North vs. South All-Star Game and reached the 1,000-point milestone on Dec. 28, 2021, later earning AHSAA Female Athlete of the Week honors on Feb. 14, 2022. During her sophomore season, she helped lead the Aggies to a 29-3 record and an AHSAA State semifinal appearance while averaging 13.2 points and 10.5 rebounds per game with 57 blocks. As a junior, she averaged 15.4 points, 11 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per contest, pulling down 107 total rebounds to lead her team to a 22-4 record and earn first-team AHSAA Class 4A honors.

In her first season with the Crimson Tide (2023–24), Jones was medically redshirted but still appeared in 16 games. She made an immediate impact in her collegiate debut, recording a career-high nine points and eight rebounds against Alabama State on Nov. 6, and later added a pair of blocks against LSU on Feb. 11, showcasing her defensive presence at the SEC level.

Head coach Kristy Curry praised Jones' growth and basketball IQ this season.

She has an incredible high basketball IQ and [is an] incredible student. She does a great job of understanding — you can show her something once and she gets it. You can make an adjustment in the huddle and she gets it. She is the first one to know if she isn’t doing something right, which she is sometimes harder on herself than we can ever be. You’re just so happy to see a player that had the kind of injury that she had persevere and get rewarded for being healthy. She understands the game and is doing a great job of impacting.

Alabama will return to Coleman Coliseum on Sunday to face a Troy team that has been dominant this season, particularly against top competition. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. CT, with coverage available on ESPN.

Alabama Players with Double-Digit Points

Jessica Timmons - 18 points

Diana Collins - 17 points

Naomi Jones - 11 points

Karly Weathers - 10 points

Alabama Stat Leaders 

Points: Jessica Timmons - 18 points

Steals: Timmons - 3 steals

Rebounds: Naomi Jones - 10  rebounds

Chase Brumfield is the morning producer and writer for Tide 100.9. He is a recent graduate from Mississippi State University as a Communications Major. Follow Chase for more Alabama content on X at @cb3864.