TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (Interstat) — Alabama will open its women’s NCAA Division I basketball season against Queens (NC) on Monday at Coleman Coliseum, with both teams entering the matchup at 0-0. The Crimson Tide will be the home team, while the Royals will be the visiting team in the first game of the season for each program.

Alabama returns after its most recent result, a 69-68 loss at Louisville. The Crimson Tide will look to start the new campaign on a stronger note at home and will have the benefit of playing in Coleman Coliseum. Alabama’s upcoming schedule includes games against New Orleans, Alabama A&M, Tulane, Memphis, Mercer, Florida A&M, North Carolina, Louisiana-Monroe, Samford and Georgia Tech. The Crimson Tide will aim to use the home opener as a foundation for a demanding nonconference stretch.

Queens (NC) most recently dropped a 57-55 decision at North Alabama. The Royals will begin the season on the road against a power-conference opponent and then continue a busy stretch that includes games against Vanderbilt, CarolinaU, Gardner-Webb, College of Charleston, Coker, Western Carolina, UNC Asheville, South Carolina Upstate, West Georgia and UNC Wilmington. Queens (NC) will look to compete on the road and build momentum before returning to its own schedule.

The matchup offers Queens (NC) an early opportunity to test itself against an Alabama team aiming to protect its home court. The Crimson Tide will seek to establish control early and use their home surroundings to open the season with a win. The Royals will try to stay competitive on the road and turn a challenging opener into momentum for the games ahead. Alabama will aim to set the tone defensively and avoid a slow start, while Queens (NC) will focus on execution and limiting turnovers in a difficult road environment.

Both teams are 0-0, so the game will mark the first official result of the season for each program. Alabama will be looking to build positive momentum before continuing its nonconference schedule. Queens (NC) will aim to begin its campaign with a strong road performance and carry lessons into its upcoming slate. The game will be played at Coleman Coliseum in Tuscaloosa, Ala., and will give both teams an early measure of their progress in the opening week of the season. The opener will be a chance for both programs to establish an early rhythm and evaluate rotations before the schedule intensifies.

Interstat’s game simulator projects a final score of Alabama 68, Queens (NC) 52. Interstat’s ELO system gives Alabama a 98.5 percent probability to win.