March Madness: 5th-seeded Alabama snaps Green Bay’s 22-game winning streak with an 81-67 win

COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) — Aaliyah Nye scored 23 points and Zaay Green added 22 to lead fifth-seeded Alabama to an 81-67 victory over 12th-seeded Green Bay on Saturday.

The Crimson Tide (24-8) ended Green Bay’s 22-game winning streak and now advances to the second round to face fourth-seeded Maryland on Monday. Maddy Schreiber scored 14 points for the Phoenix (29-6).

Green Bay kept the game close through most of the first half, but the Horizon League champion allowed six straight points to end the second quarter and trailed 38-29.

“I have so much respect for those young women from Green Bay. They are everything that is so good about our game,” Alabama coach Kristy Curry said. “Certainly want to make sure that everyone understands what a great basketball team we beat today — the utmost respect — but I am so proud of our locker room. I’m so proud of our team.”

The Crimson Tide — who earned their highest seed since 1999 — now have a chance to achieve another March Madness breakthrough. They haven’t made the Sweet 16 since 1998.

Alabama pushed its lead to 13 in the third quarter. The margin was down to five early in the fourth, but Nye connected from 3-point range to help repel that Green Bay push.

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Nye’s record

Nye’s four 3-pointers brought her season total to 109, breaking her school record of 108 from 2023-24. She’s also the program’s career leader with 387.

“I always say consistency, and don’t get too high or too low,” Nye said. “I’m just blessed ... to be a part of this program and this team, that’s able to get me the ball.”

Takeaways

Green Bay: It was another fine season for one of the nation’s better mid-major programs, which kept right on rolling after longtime coach Kevin Borseth retired and was replaced by Kayla Karius. But the Phoenix didn’t get enough stops to spring the upset against the Crimson Tide.

Alabama: This was a good first-round test, and the Crimson Tide passed it, finishing strong in both halves. Top scorer Sarah Ashlee Barker scored just nine points, but Alabama still put up the most points by a Green Bay opponent since the Phoenix allowed 92 to Kansas State in their first game of the season. Barker did have eight assists and seven rebounds.

Key stats

Alabama’s size advantage was noticeable — both inside and at the guard position.

“I think it did bother us, and you could tell with five turnovers in the first quarter, how the passes didn’t look as open as maybe they normally do,” Karius said. “That’s part of playing against teams like this and getting in the NCAA Tournament and playing the best of the best.”

The Crimson Tide outscored Green Bay 40-22 in the paint and went 4 of 6 from 3-point range in the fourth quarter after they were 6 of 21 through three.

Key moment

In the final seconds of the first half, Nye drew a three-shot foul and converted each attempt to give Alabama a nine-point lead.

Up next

Alabama and Maryland met in the NCAA Tournament four years ago, with the Terrapins winning 100-64 in the second round.

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