LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Jessica Timmons scored 21 points and Essence Cody added 19 as Alabama beat Rhode Island 68-55 Saturday in the first round of the women’s NCAA Tournament.

The Crimson Tide (24-10) won a first-round tournament game for the third straight year by shooting 53.2% (25 of 47) and dominating inside, outscoring the Rams (28-5) 42-12 in the paint.

Other than Brooklyn Gray’s 3-pointer on the Rams’ first possession, sixth-seeded Alabama led throughout. The Tide outscored Rhode Island 14-1 over the first 7:26 of the second quarter to build a 30-14 lead.

Defense played a big role in Alabama’s run as 11th-seeded Rhode Island went just 1 for 19 over an 11-minute stretch in the first half. That included missing eight 3-point attempts and committing a pair of shot-clock violations.

“We were just wanting to keep them in front and contest every shot,” Alabama coach Kristy Curry said. “So I thought our kids did a really nice job of staying consistent with the game plan. I thought that gave us a lot of energy when we started to see success with the tendencies and how we wanted to play.”

The Rams closed out the first half on a 9-1 run and cut Alabama’s lead to eight points at the break.

Cody drew her third foul just 72 seconds into the second half, sending the 6-foot-4 junior to the bench for nearly the remainder of the quarter. Rhode Island closed within four points three times in the third before the Crimson Tide used a 12-0 run to pull away.

Rams coach Tammi Reiss said point guard Sophia Vital picking up her third foul midway through the quarter hurt her team’s chances.

“What you’re hoping for is it’s a game in the fourth quarter,” she said. “You’re not playing catch-up.”

Timmons scored eight of her 11 third-quarter points during the run.

Diana Collins pitched in with 16 points, going 7 for 9 from the field, for Alabama

Palmire Mbu and Ines Debroise each scored 11 points for the Rams, who shot 32.8% (19 of 58).

Atypical Tide attack

Alabama entered Saturday averaging 22.7 3-point attempts per game. The Tide put up a season-low 10 on Saturday, but what that created was an opportunity to dominate inside.

“A lot of teams’ game plan is going to be to run us off the line, and if they do, we’re going to score in the paint,” Timmons said.

Alabama converted four of its 3-point attempts, including three by Cody, who made 10 of 30 heading into March Madness.

The three makes were a career high for the junior post player, who said they helped create chances for her teammates to attack the rim.

Rams set new standard

Rhode Island played in its second NCAA Tournament and first in 30 years Saturday, and Reiss hopes the Rams won’t have to wait that long for a third trip.

The seventh-year coach has led the program to four 20-win seasons out of the last five. She said she took inspiration from Danny Hurley, who had re-established the Rams men’s team before guiding UConn to back-to-back national titles.

“I was like, this is going to happen,” she said. “We promised Rhode Island this, and now we achieved it. Now can you sustain it? That’s the question, and that’s the next phase of Rhode Island basketball. … It’s been a process. A lot of ups, a lot of downs, but well worth the journey.”

Up next

Alabama will host Louisville in a second-round game on Monday, with the winner advancing to Fort Worth, Texas.

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AP March Madness bracket: https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-womens-bracket and coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness

Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

The brother of University of Alabama student James Gracey posted a tearjerking tribute to his older sibling, whose body was found floating in the Mediterranean Sea outside a club in Barcelona.

“To my Beautiful Big Brother Jimmy,” younger bro Tommy Gracey penned in the touching Instagram post.

“I’m gonna miss all the texts and calls about hockey, school, and life in general. I’m not ready to say goodbye to that,” the grieving brother wrote Friday, adding elsewhere, “I would do anything to have just one more conversation with you.”

“When I visited you for the first time at bama [sic]  and I ran into your arms is a memory I will cherish forever, thank you for that.”

He included snaps of the two from hockey games, family photos from Christmas and vacations, and several images of the two loving brothers simply hugging.

“Thank you for everything. I just can’t believe that’s all over. I will do my best to pass on your legacy. What a ride dude. I can’t wait to see you again in eternal paradise. I love you and fly high, Jimmy,” the tribute concluded.

Here is the latest on missing University of Alabama student James Gracey

The 20-year-old Illinois-native spring breaker was last seen at 3 a.m. on March 17 after a night of partying at popular seaside nightclub Shoko Barcelona. 

Surveillance video showed Gracey stumbling near the shore and falling into the water. His body was found on March 19th, outlet El Pais reported, citing authorities.

The Alabama student was alone at the time he was taken by the tides, just a few feet from the Japanese-themed club in the popular nightlife area of Barcelona, the footage revealed.

Gracey’s wallet, with his cash and other belongings inside, was found floating near his body.

His cellphone was found in a different person’s possession. Family stated that they were not sure whether the phone was lost or stolen from Gracey before his death.

While his death is considered likely accidental, investigators privately suspect he was under the influence of drugs, alcohol or both when he went into the water, a source told Fox News Digital.

The results of Gracey’s autopsy and toxicology report were pending Saturday, according to local police.