Women’s Basketball Defeated No.15 Michigan State On Friday

WEST PALM, Fla. - What initially appeared to be a sluggish start in the first quarter of a fiercely contested game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and Michigan State Spartans ultimately resulted in an upset for the No.15 Spartans and a win for the Crimson Tide.

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Heading into the matchup, the Crimson Tide had dropped out of the AP Top 25 rankings after suffering a loss to the University of California, Berkeley, bringing their record to 9-1 on Dec. 5. Aiming to regain their focus, they recognized that not only was it crucial to keep the undefeated Spartans close, but bringing them their first loss would be even more significant.

The first quarter showcased strong defensive efforts from both teams, setting an early competitive tone as they combined for just six points by the first media timeout. The Crimson Tide managed to edge ahead with a one-point lead ending the first at 9-8.

The Crimson Tide ramped up their offense thanks to a Diana Collins layup, followed by consecutive three-pointers from Aaliyah Nye. The Spartans responded with a 6-0 run, but the Crimson Tide countered by finishing the quarter strong, going 3-for-3 from the floor while holding the Spartans scoreless for the last 3:12, leading 32-30 at halftime.

The Crimson Tide displayed increased intensity in the third quarter, starting with a 6-2 run and a 14-0 surge midway through. This allowed them to seize control of the game. With a strong defensive effort, they limited the Spartans to just 11 points in the third, building a 22-point lead - the largest of the contest - by the end of the quarter, leading 63-41 as they prepared for the final period.

The Spartans weren't ready to give up just yet, as they fought back, trying to close in on the Crimson Tide lead. They pressured the Crimson Tide, forcing five turnovers and narrowing the deficit to 13 points. The last four minutes proved pivotal, as the Crimson Tide outscored the Spartans 11-8, ultimately clinching an 82-67 victory in a significant upset.

“We challenged the team at halftime. We had to take care of the basketball because we had way too many turnovers. We weren’t being aggressive and I thought our team really got the message at the half. We did a much better job at coming out and playing with our personality and not letting anyone dictate who we are. I’m so proud of our team in the third and the fourth [quarters]. I thought we did a much better job in the second half. We showed a lot of toughness and grit today and that’s the bottom line," said coach Kristy Curry during the postgame press conference.

The second day of the West Palm Beach Classic will feature Alabama versus Richmond in the championship game at 12:15 p.m. CT through Baller TV. Should the Crimson Tide win, they will secure their second tournament championship of the season, the first being the Emerald Coast Classic on Nov. 27.

Point Leaders:

Essence Cody - 16

Aaliyah Nye - 18

Zaay Green - 17

Karly Weathers - 12

Sarah Ashlee Barker - 11

Diana Collins - 8