Aaliyah Nye’s Hot Shooting Propels No. 23 Alabama to Road Win Over Florida
February 7, 2025 – Gainesville, FL
Aaliyah Nye delivered a record-setting performance on Wednesday night, draining nine three-pointers to power No. 23 Alabama to a commanding road victory over Florida. Her red-hot shooting display was the driving force behind the Crimson Tide’s 78-65 triumph in Gainesville, further solidifying their place among the SEC’s top teams.
Nye, a junior guard, was nearly unstoppable from beyond the arc, finishing with a game-high 29 points. She set the tone early, connecting on three triples in the first quarter to help Alabama establish an early lead. Florida fought back to keep the contest close in the first half, but Nye’s consistent sharpshooting proved too much for the Gators to handle.
“It felt like every shot was going in tonight,” Nye said after the game. “My teammates did a great job finding me in open spots, and I just had the confidence to let it fly.”
Her nine three-pointers marked a career high and tied the Alabama program record for most in a single game. The Crimson Tide, now 18-5 overall and 8-2 in SEC play, leaned heavily on Nye’s perimeter prowess to overcome a tough Florida squad that had been playing well at home.
Florida, led by senior forward Ra Shaya Kyle’s 18 points and 10 rebounds, kept the game competitive through three quarters. The Gators (13-10, 4-6 SEC) used their size advantage inside to challenge Alabama defensively, but they struggled to contain the Tide’s perimeter attack.
Alabama head coach Kristy Curry praised Nye’s performance and the team’s overall execution.
“Aaliyah was phenomenal tonight,” Curry said. “She got into a rhythm early, and when she’s shooting like that, we become really hard to guard. But I also loved how our team played together, moved the ball well, and stayed locked in on the defensive end.”
Alabama’s defense tightened in the fourth quarter, limiting Florida’s offensive opportunities while continuing to find open looks from deep. The Tide’s ball movement created spacing for Nye and her teammates, who shot an impressive 42% from three-point range as a team.
With the victory, Alabama strengthened its position in the SEC standings as the conference tournament approaches. Nye’s standout night also put her in the national spotlight as one of the premier three-point shooters in college basketball this season.
The Crimson Tide will look to carry this momentum into their next matchup, a highly anticipated showdown against No. 15 LSU on Sunday. Meanwhile, Florida will aim to bounce back as they travel to face Kentucky.
For now, though, the night belongs to Aaliyah Nye, whose shooting clinic in Gainesville w
on’t soon be forgotten.
