Alabama women’s basketball did not have any issues finding the basket in its 115-53 season-opening win over New Orleans on Monday night at Coleman Coliseum.
So much so, Monday night marked the first time in three years that the Crimson Tide has scored over 100 points, the last time coming on Nov. 9, 2021 with 109 points vs. Charleston Southern. On top of that, 11 of the Crimson Tide‘s 14 players saw action against the Privateers, with four finishing in double figures: Aaliyah Nye (25), Sarah Ashlee Barker (23), Eris Lester (16) and Zaay Green (12).
Of those four, two are newcomers on the Alabama roster this season: Lester a true freshman and Green a graduate transfer from Arkansas Pine-Bluff.
“It’s really important,” Alabama head coach Kristy Curry said about the newcomers seeing time on the court. “They got time in the exhibition, they got time in our scrimmage and they get time everyday. It’s going to be important as we head into SEC play that they understand the system and continue to develop and grow.”
Lester is one of three freshmen on the Alabama roster, joined by Leah Brooks and Chloe Spree. Spree added three points and two assists on Monday, Brooks putting up two points with one steal.
“That kid works so hard,” Barker said of Lester following the win. “All of them work really hard, but (Lester) has worked so hard. She’s in the gym all the time. To see 15 points on her first freshman debut, I was really proud of her for that.”
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Green is one of three transfers that joined Alabama this offseason, alongside sophomore Diana Collins (Ohio State) and graduate Christabel Ezumah (Campbell). Collins scored nine points and grabbed two steals on Monday while Ezumah added seven points and two steals, going 3 of 3 from the field.
“It’s important that they continue to learn and grow and come out and execute,” Curry said. “It’s also interesting because Zay and Diana are new to the system, too, but they certainly are adjusting and adapting and have made us a whole lot better in our back court.”
Alabama continues its 2024-25 season on Friday, taking its first road trip of the season to Alabama A&M (7:30 p.m., TV TBD).
Anna Snyder covers high school sports and University of Alabama softball and football recruiting for The Tuscaloosa News. Reach her at asnyder@gannett.com. Follow her on X @annaesnyder2.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Alabama women’s basketball newcomers shine in season-opener vs New Orleans
