Led by freshman Cody, Alabama women's basketball prepares for its toughest test yet
Alabama women's basketball picked up arguably its most impressive win of the season after beating Florida State in the first round of the NCAA tournament. The win itself was impressive, but the performance that the team had battling through injuries was a testament to the overall season the Crimson Tide have had.
On a night where Alabama's top scorer and All-SEC first team player, Sarah Ashlee Barker, sat out a majority of the game due to foul trouble, the Crimson Tide were able to put together a superb offensive display and come out victorious.
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After it was announced on Monday that forward Jessica Timmons, Alabama's third leading scorer, would miss the remainder of the season with a knee injury, the biggest question for the Crimson Tide was who would be the one to step up in her shoes. The answer to that was freshman Essence Cody, who showed out in a major way.
Cody recorded career highs in points and rebounds with 20 and 14, and made her presence known defensively recording three blocks and a steal in her first career NCAA tournament game, showing exactly who Alabama had hoped they got when she came to Tuscaloosa.
However, it was not just Cody who had a profound impact on the game, as sophomore Karly Weathers shined in her role filling in for Jessica Timmons.
Weathers recorded her season-high 18 points along with five rebounds and five assists, but her impact goes beyond the stat sheet as coach Kristy Curry always says.
Weathers' impact on both sides of the ball and her hustle is something that cannot be overlooked and is something that Alabama will continue to rely on as it prepares for the toughest team it will face all year in Texas.
As the Crimson Tide look ahead to face the No. 1 seeded Longhorns, this season has been nothing short of historic for Alabama on all levels. The Crimson Tide won 10 conference games, which is the most conference wins since 1997-98, had two players on All-SEC first and second teams, recorded its third straight 20+ win season which is the most since 1998-99, and had two players become the 33rd and 34th members of the 1,000 point club.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Essence Cody leads Alabama women's basketball to victory in the first round of the NCAA tournament
