Alabama took time to get cranked up, then tallied 54 points in the middle two quarters in handing No. 15 Michigan State its first loss, 82-67 on Friday in the West Palm Beach Classic in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Aaliyah Nye finished with 18 points, Zaay Green had 17 and Essence Cody posted 16 points and eight rebounds for unranked Alabama (11-1), which scored only nine points in the first quarter yet led 9-8.
Julia Ayrault had 18 points for Michigan State (11-1), which trailed by 22 points going to the fourth quarter. Theryn Hallock posted 14 points off the bench and Grace VanSlooten had 10 points, but the Spartans were hurt by 25 turnovers.
No. 18 Tennessee 92, Richmond 67
Talaysia Cooper racked up 17 of her 24 points in the second half as the Volunteers topped the Spiders in the West Palm Beach Classic contest in Fort Lauderdale.
The Volunteers (10-0) led 47-39 at halftime before pouring it on. They shot 51.4 percent (37 of 72) for the game, with Cooper going 10-for-18. Ruby Whitehorn provided 15 points off the bench on 7-for-11 shooting, and Samara Spencer had 11 points.
Rachel Ullstrom led Richmond (9-3) with 19 points, while Maggie Doogan had 14. The Spiders got only three points from bench players compared to Tennessee’s 35.
No. 20 Michigan 96, Akron 55
Greta Kampschroeder poured in 23 points as the Wolverines won their first true road game of the season in Akron, Ohio.
Kampschroeder accounted for five of Michigan’s 12 baskets from 3-point range. Jordan Hobbs had 13 points, reserve Yulia Grabovskaia notched 12 points and Olivia Olson added 11 for the Wolverines (10-2), who made 20 of 24 free throws. Michigan is 2-2 in neutral-site games.
Akron (5-6), which committed 29 turnovers, was led by Shelbee Brown’s 14 points.
–Field Level Media
