FLORENCE – After trailing by eight points at the half, the University of North Alabama women's basketball team rallied for a 70-66 home victory over UAH Sunday afternoon at Flowers Hall in the Gulf South Conference opener for both teams. KeKe Gunter and Ivy Wallen combined for 41 points as the Lions improved to 7-0 overall and 1-0 in league action.
 
UAH led 39-31 at the break after closing the second quarter on a 12-3 run. The Lions, however, scored the first 12 points of the third quarter to take the lead for good. UNA led by as many as nine in the period. A steal and layup by Gunter at the buzzer made the score 54-45, completing a 23-6 third-quarter run.
 
The Lady Chargers, however, would not go away. After two free throws by Michaela DeKilder gave UNA a 65-54 lead with 4:20 remaining, UAH made one final spurt. A jumper with 4.9 seconds remaining cut the deficit to four points before time ran out on the Chargers.
 
North Alabama was able to take advantage of a season-high 26 UAH turnovers. The Lions converted the miscues into 38 points. UNA struggled from three-point range, hitting just 4-of-21 attempts.
 
Gunter finished with a game-high 21 points. She also tied DeKilder with a team-best six rebounds on the day. Wallen was 6-of-16 from the floor, including a trio of three-point baskets and finished with 20 points. Emma Wallen added 12 points for the Lions, getting all of her scoring in the first half.
 
Caroline Dodd led UAH (0-5 overall, 0-1 GSC) with 17 points.
 
UNA will return to action on Dec. 15 with another GSC home game against West Alabama. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. at Flowers Hall.