Alabama Women's Basketball Defeats Rhode Island in NCAA Tournament Opener

Crimson Tide advance to Round of 32 with 68-55 victory

Mar. 22, 2026 at 7:24pm

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The Alabama women's basketball team opened their 2026 NCAA Tournament run with a 68-55 victory over Rhode Island at the KFC Yum Center in Louisville, Kentucky. The Crimson Tide showcased strong defense and teamwork, led by a dominant performance from Essence Cody, to defeat the Rams and advance to the Round of 32.

Why it matters

Alabama's win over Rhode Island marks the third straight year the Crimson Tide have advanced to the Round of 32 in the NCAA Tournament, demonstrating the program's continued success and competitiveness at the national level. The team will now face a tough challenge against No. 3 seed Louisville on Monday.

The details

Alabama won the opening tip but an early offensive foul by Cody gave Rhode Island the chance to sink a 3-pointer. Cody quickly redeemed herself, hitting a three of her own to tie the game. The Tide pulled ahead in the first quarter, leading 16-13 at the end of the period. Alabama then went on a 14-1 run in the second quarter to take a 31-23 lead at halftime. Rhode Island narrowed the gap to four points in the third quarter, but Alabama responded with a 17-3 run to blow the game open. Cody led the Tide in the final quarter, scoring nine of their 15 points to secure the 68-55 victory.

  • The game was played on Saturday, March 22, 2026.
  • Alabama will face Louisville on Monday, March 23, 2026 at 12 p.m. EST.

The players

Essence Cody

A key player for the Alabama women's basketball team who led the Crimson Tide in scoring during their NCAA Tournament opening round victory over Rhode Island.

Alabama Crimson Tide

The women's basketball team from the University of Alabama, who are making their third straight appearance in the NCAA Tournament Round of 32.

Rhode Island Rams

The women's basketball team from the University of Rhode Island, who were defeated by Alabama in the opening round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament.

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What they’re saying

“We knew Rhode Island would come out strong, but our team's defense and teamwork really set the tone early. Essence was huge for us today, and I'm proud of how the whole squad stepped up to get this win.”

— Kristy Curry, Alabama Head Coach

What’s next

Alabama will face No. 3 seed Louisville on Monday, March 23 at 12 p.m. EST in the Round of 32 of the NCAA Tournament.

The takeaway

Alabama's victory over Rhode Island demonstrates the continued strength and competitiveness of the Crimson Tide women's basketball program, which has now advanced to the Round of 32 in the NCAA Tournament for the third straight year. The team will face a tough test against Louisville, but their strong defensive play and balanced scoring attack make them a formidable opponent.