Cody's Return Sparks Alabama's NCAA Tournament

0:00On March 23rd, Alabama women's basketball kicked off the NCAA tournament with a solid 68-55 win over Rhode Island on March 21st. Essence, Cody led the way, dropping 19 points in her best games since early December. She nailed three, three, pointers early, shooting six of eight from the field and perfect from the foul line. Cody had been sideline by injuries, including a knee issue that kept her out at the start of SEC play. By tournament time, she was fully healthy for the first time all season. Coach Christie Curry had high hopes after seeing Cody dominate in recent practices. Fans and coaches were thrilled with Cody's performance, especially given her pedigree as a McDonald's All-American in high school and an all-freshman. Pick last year. Her shooting forced the defense to spread out, opening the paint for Alabama's teammates. The Crimson Tide made just four threes on 10 tries, their lowest volume of the year, but they shot 57% inside the arc.

1:00Cody's presence on the block and beyond created easy looks for everyone. With Cody heating up at the right time, Alabama lids poised for a deep run as the tournament heats up.