Timmons and Cody ignite Alabama's offense, powering a gritty NCAA Tournament win and asserting their dominance for another March run.
There’s something about March that brings out the grit in this Alabama team, and on Saturday, the Crimson Tide showed exactly why they’re built for this moment.
No. 6 seed Alabama took control when it mattered most, pulling away from No. 11 Rhode Island for a 68-55 win in the opening round of the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament at the KFC Yum! Center.
With the victory, the Tide moves on to the Round of 32 for the third straight season, a testament to the consistency and toughness this program has built under Kristy Curry.
And make no mistake, this one wasn’t always easy.
Rhode Island came in battle-tested with 28 wins and didn’t back down early, but Alabama responded the way great teams do. Every time momentum started to shift, the Tide answered with poise, physicality, and a refusal to let this game slip away.
It was the duo of Jessica Timmons and Essence Cody that led the charge, combining for 40 of Alabama’s 68 points.
Timmons poured in 21 with confidence, attacking when Alabama needed a bucket, while Cody added 19 and made her presence felt inside all night long.
When the game tightened, those two didn’t flinch.
That’s been the identity of this team all season: tough, relentless, and fearless in big moments.
Alabama didn’t rely on the three-ball in this one.
Instead, they imposed their will in the paint and at the free-throw line, adjusting to what the defense gave them and making Rhode Island pay for it.
It’s that ability to adapt mid-game that separates good teams from dangerous ones in March.
After the game, head coach Kristy Curry pointed to resilience as the difference, and she’s exactly right.
This group doesn’t panic.
They don’t fold.
They respond.
And that showed up all over the floor.
Defensively, Alabama stayed locked in, limiting clean looks and forcing Rhode Island to work for everything. Offensively, they were patient, intentional, and physical, especially down the stretch when the game was still within reach.
This wasn’t just a win.
This was a statement.
A statement that Alabama women’s basketball isn’t just happy to be here—they’re here to make noise.
Now, the path only gets tougher.
That’s what March demands.
But if this game proved anything, it’s this: Alabama is built for it.
And they’re just getting started.