Zaay Green and Aaliyah Nye’s Combined 45 Points Advances the Crimson Tide

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - In what seemed to be a tightly contested matchup between the Alabama Crimson Tide and Green Bay Phoenix women's basketball teams, later turned into a showcase for Zaay Green and a record-setting game for veteran Aaliyah Nye. The two combined for a total of 45 of the Crimson Tide's 81 points to help lead the Crimson Tide to the Round of 32.

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The first quarter started in a tight contest with the score at 6-3 with 7:30 remaining, with the Phoenix ahead by three. Green tied the game with a layup and a free throw, followed by Karly Weathers getting a steal and converting it into a layup, putting the Crimson Tide ahead 8-6. Weathers hit another layup, extending the lead to 10-6. Natalie McNeal, then answered with a layup, making the score 10-8. Diana Collins entered the game and immediately made an impact by knocking down a 3-pointer from a turnover, pushing the Crimson Tide ahead to 13-8. The Phoenix then responded with a 3-pointer of their own, cutting the lead to 13-11 leading to a back-and-forth action for the first quarter. Christabel Ezumah added two for the Crimson Tide, and another turnover led to a layup, extending the lead to 17-11. The Phoenix began to rally with under two minutes remaining, scoring  twice to narrow the gap to 17-15. With under 50 seconds remaining, the Phoenix leveled the score after going on a 6-0 run. It was Green who pulled away with a layup to give the Crimson Tide a two-point lead (19-17).

Essence Cody kicked off the second quarter for the Crimson Tide with a layup, keeping them ahead. After both teams struggled to score for a few minutes, Nye extended the lead to 23-17 with 7:30 remaining. The Phoenix responded with two free throws, cutting the lead to 23-19, but Sarah Ashlee Barker answered with a layup, preserving the Crimson Tide's  advantage. The Phoenix didn't back down, as they hit a layup and a free throw to make it 25-22, followed by McNeal's two free throws, which brought the game within one at 25-24 with six minutes remaining. As the game intensified, Green buried a 3-pointer, but the Phoenix quickly countered with a 3-pointer of their own to pull ahead 28-27. Green answered once more with another 3-pointer, putting the Crimson Tide back in front at 30-27, and then added a quick two to extend it to 32-27. With under two minutes remaining, Weathers nailed a 3-pointer to widen the gap to 35-29. In the final seconds of the half, Nye was fouled and calmly hit three free throws, closing out the first half with the Crimson Tide leading 38-29.

Cody ignited the Crimson Tide's offense to start the third quarter, immediately scoring a layup to extend the Crimson Tide's lead. However, after a strong start, Cody found herself in foul trouble with 8:20 left in the quarter, which allowed the Phoenix to add to their score. Despite this setback, the Crimson Tide responded with urgency, pushing their lead to 48-35 with five minutes remaining in the quarter, fueled by a 3-pointer from Green, who reached 20 points. After the Phoenix took a timeout, McNeal added two more points, and the Phoenix quickly capitalized on a steal to narrow the deficit to 48-40. Barker answered with a layup to make it 50-40, but the Phoenix wasn't backing down, hitting their third consecutive 3-pointer to bring the score to 50-43. Nye responded with a layup, extending the lead to 52-44. With less than two minutes to play, McNeal snagged a steal and raced down the court for a layup, cutting the lead to 54-47. The Crimson Tide held strong, though, with a quick layup to make it 56-47. Ezumah sealed the quarter with a final basket, giving the Crimson Tide an 11-point lead at 58-47 as the period ended.

The Phoenix began the fourth quarter with a surge, cutting the lead to 58-49. At 8:17, they added two free throws to make it 58-51, Cody then re-entered the game, and would later make her presence known. Barker hit a free throw to push the lead back to 59-51, but the Phoenix responded with a 3-pointer to trim the deficit to 59-54. However, Nye answered with a crucial 3-pointer of her own, extending the Crimson Tide's lead to 62-54. The Phoenix fought back, narrowing the score to 62-56, but Cody added two to keep the Crimson Tide in control, making it 64-56. With 5:40 remaining, Cody scored back-to back layups, increasing the lead to 66-58, in a high-paced game. Barker continued to push the tempo, weaving through traffic to score and make it 68-58. Green followed with another strong play, spinning through defenders for two points, bringing the score to 70-58, while also giving her 22 points on the day. Nye, not to be outdone, hit her 108th 3-pointer of the season-on pace to set a new program record-pushing the lead to 73-61, with three minutes remaining. She followed up with a layup, bringing her to 20 points, joining Green. With less than two minutes left, Nye sank another three solidifying her place in the record books with 109 3-pointers made in a single season. Weathers added a 3-pointer in the final moments to make it 81-64; the game ended with the Crimson Tide securing a 81-67 victory.

The Crimson Tide will face the Maryland Terrapins on Monday in the Round of 32, should they advance, they will be back in the State of Alabama (Birmingham) for  the Sweet 16.