NICEVILLE, FLA. — No. 23 ranked Alabama used a balanced scoring attack and pressure defense to stop Clemson, 73-39, in the championship of the Bay Bracket in the inaugural Emerald Coast Classic women’s basketball tournament Tuesday.
The Crimson Tide improved to 7-0, while holding Clemson (4-2) to a season low in scoring and field goal shooting percentage (.255).“We’ve had great balance the last two days, ” said Alabama head coach Kelly Curry. “We had four in double figures and nearly a fifth. I thought we really executed the game plan against a good Clemson team. I’m really proud of our team and who we are trying to be every day. It was just a great team effort.”
Graduate guard Zaay Green, named the outstanding performer of the tournament, collected a game-high 17 points, six assists and two steals to lead the charge by the Crimson Tide.
She was joined on the all-tournament team by teammate Aaliyah Nye, a second-team all-SEC performer last year, who scored 14 points while dishing out four assists.
Guard Sarah Ashlee Barker, a preseason first team All-SEC selection, tallied 15 points while collecting a season-high five steals. Alabama sophomore forward Essence Cody, who also scored 15 points, grabbed a game-high nine rebounds.
Barker, held to just two points in the first half on 1 of 8 shooting, exploded for 13 points in the second half.
Alabama forced Clemson into 18 turnovers, while dominating the paint, outscoring Clemson, 42-20.“I think we are trying just to execute the defensive fundamentals each day,” Curry added. “We talk a lot about multiple efforts. We knew they would try to shorten the game and make multiple passes. We have to do a better job with the little things and I think we did a good job of affecting the ball tonight. We had a couple of miscommunications but after we settled in and started to recognize what we saw on film, we did a good job of following the game plan and their tendencies.”
Alabama took advantage of cold shooting by Clemson to mount a 15-8 lead after the first quarter. Clemson missed nine straight shots during a 4 minute 26 second span in the period and finished the quarter making just 4 of 18 shots.
Guard Mia Moore was the lone Clemson player to score in double figures with 11 points. Forward Tessa Miller led the Tigers with nine rebounds. Clemson entertains Kennesaw State Sunday.
Alabama, which plays host to Georgia State Tuesday, closed out the game shooting 66.7 percent in the fourth quarter making 10 of 15 shots.
Curry also wanted to praise local officials who hosted this inaugural tournament.
“I’ve played in a lot of beach atmospheres and they have all been wonderful experiences,” stated Curry. “But, I just feel like, number one, the quality of our host with Northwest Florida and the facility here is second to none. The ability to be right on the beach, is just a beautiful setting. Our SEC meetings are at the Hilton Sandestin. The entire experience, the setting, the restaurants, it’s just a combination of pure class. It’s such a wonderful experience. Having comparisons through the years, it’s just so well-run, it’s a great experience. It’s something I think that each team that plays in this can build off of take it into December.”
Can lightning strike twice for the Crimson Tide? The Alabama men played in the 2023 Emerald Coast Classic and then advanced to the 2024 NCAA Final Four.“ We certainly would like to follow that suit,” added Curry. “Obviously, they played here and had the run to the Final Four last year. I’ve played here before and I’ve been here multiple times recruiting. The facilities and the four locker rooms here, it’s just an amazing setup. The quality was great. We embraced it. Regardless of where you play, there are two baskets and you just have to make the most of it. I think our two game scheduling a few weeks ago helped get us ready for this tournament.”
Other members of the Bay Bracket All-Tournament team were Loyal McQueen, Clemson; Mia Moore, Clemson; and Maddie Walsh, UAB.
