COLUMBIA, Mo. (November 14, 2023) – University of North Alabama Women's Basketball battled until the end, but suffered their second setback of the season at SEC foe Missouri in an 83-72 road defeat.
The Lions (1-2) stayed competitive from start to finish against their first Power Five opponent of the year, keeping the Tigers locked in from the opening tip. Five Lions scored in double figures as the three-point shooting prowess of UNA showed with North Alabama making six more threes than Mizzou.
The Tigers were propelled by efficient scoring, shooting 46 percent. and a 49-30 rebounding differential en route to a 3-0 start at home and a 3-1 overall record.
UNA was led in scoring by guard Chloe Siegel, who contributed 15 points on 5-12 shooting with all five coming from behind the arc. Senior guard Sara Wohlgemuth earned her first career double-double with an 11-point, 10-assist performance, leading all players in assists and setting a new career high.
Sophomore guard Alyssa Clutter (12 points), freshman guard Veronaye Charlton (10) and senior guard Alexis Callins (10) all finished the night in double figures to round out the night in Columbia.
HOW IT HAPPENED
FIRST QUARTER: UNA started quickly, scoring the first points of the game off a Missouri missed shot turned into a Callins layup. An ensuing score from the Tigers set up another score from Alyssa Clutter before Missouri went on an 8-0 run to take the lead 10-4. Callins' second score of the night and a Siegel three rounded out the scoring in the first quarter, with Missouri on top 23-12.
SECOND QUARTER: The Tigers would come out the quarter the aggressors, scoring the first six points before a Callins' three initiated the UNA scoring in quarter two. Senior guard Emily Jones forced a turnover with a steal before sophomore guard Rhema Pegues cut the deficit with her first three of the night. Siegel hit two of her five threes in the quarter, as the Lions outscored the Tigers 18-17 with Missouri up 40-30 going into halftime.
THIRD QUARTER: Both teams started second half firing, as two opening scores from the Tigers were answered by a three from Callins and a layup from Veronaye Charlton. Missouri responded with a 10-1 run before a layup from Clutter sparked an 8-0 answer run from the Lions. Both teams scored 21 points in the quarter to keep UNA within striking distance heading to the fourth, 62-51.
FOURTH QUARTER: Missouri set the tone in the final quarter, coming out the gates with two straight threes to go up 68-51. Wohlgemuth answered with two threes of her own to score the first six of her eight fourth-quarter points. The Tigers were able to match the Lions score for score in the fourth, never allowing UNA to get within single digits of their lead. Charlton scored five of her 10 points in the fourth, but the Tigers were able to secure the win at home, 83-72.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
- The Lion's three-point shooting was on full display, making six more threes than the Tigers — 11-5 — and a slightly better shooting percentage.
- Siegel finished with a team-high 15 points for the Lions, with all points coming from deep. Her five made threes matched Mizzou's entire team total.
- North Alabama was more efficient from the charity stripe, shooting 81.3 percent from the line. The Tigers finished the night going 10-15 from the line, shooting 66.7 percent.
- Wohlgemuth continued her run as one of the top assisters in the Atlantic Sun Conference, leading both teams with 10 assists. Her previous career-high of eight was set last season at Jacksonville State.
- Wohlgemuth also proved to be more than a facilitator with 11 points to cap off her first career double-double performance.
COMING UP NEXT
The Lions will begin a two-game stint in Florence this weekend when they take on Southern Miss for a non-conference matchup in CB&S Bank Arena. Tipoff is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 18 at 5 p.m.
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
