FLORENCE – The University of North Alabama women's basketball team used a record-breaking performance to give head coach Missy Tiber her 100th victory at the school. Six players reached double figures in scoring as the Lions opened the 2019-20 season with a 128-26 home win over Virginia-Lynchburg Thursday evening at Flowers Hall. The 128 points scored and 51 made field goals were the most ever in a single game, while the 102-point margin of victory was also the largest in school history.
UNA (1-0) opened the game on a 15-0 run, holding the Dragons scoreless for the first 3:26 of playing time. All five starters scored in the opening run. A free throw by Ivy Wallen with less than a second remaining gave the Lions a 29-6 lead at the end of the first quarter.
North Alabama added to its lead in the second quarter. A three-point basket by Olivia Noah capped a 10-0 run to give the Lions a 57-12 lead with 1:23 remaining in the half. UNA took a 59-13 lead into the break.
After Lynchburg scored the first basket of the third quarter, a basket by Brittany Panetti started a 12-2 North Alabama run. Emma Wallen hit a pair of treys during the spurt and the Lions went ahead 71-18 before the media timeout. UNA held a commanding 89-20 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
UNA reached the century mark with 5:27 remaining on a three-pointer by Noah.
Panetti finished with a game-high 22 points. She was 8-of-9 shooting from the floor with seven rebounds. Freshman Jaida Bond added 18 points, including 17 in the second half as the Lions went to their bench.
Ivy Wallen had a double-double that included 16 points and 11 assists. It was the 15th time in her career the senior from Anderson reached double digits in assists. Noah and Emma Wallen finished with 12 points each while Sarah Suttle rounded out the top scorers for the Lions with 10 points.
The 128 points and 51 field goals against Lynchburg breaks a pair of 36-year old school records, when UNA defeated West Alabama 120-49 on March 2, 1984. The Lions hit 49 shots from the floor in that Gulf South Conference tournament game in Troy, Ala. The previous record for largest margin of victory was set on Dec. 11, 2017 when the Lions defeated Fisk College 115-40 at Flowers Hall.
UNA will remain at home to host Mississippi Valley State on Saturday. Tip-off is set for 6:30 p.m. at Flowers Hall.
