HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (November 29, 2023) – The University of North Alabama women's basketball team dropped a 70-57 decision against the Alabama A&M Bulldogs in non-conference play Wednesday afternoon in Huntsville, Ala.
Senior guard Alexis Callins and sophomore guard Rhema Pegues finished tied for a team-high 14 points, while sophomore guard Alyssa Clutter chipped in 11 in the morning matchup in Huntsville.
The Bulldogs earned their first win in women's basketball program history against the Lions, breaking a streak of 15 consecutive wins by North Alabama. A quick start by Alabama A&M was erased by UNA's big quarter, outscoring the Bulldogs 19-13 en route to a 31-28 halftime lead.
Alabama A&M responded with their own high-scoring quarter in the third, outscoring the Lions 22-12 to take its first lead since the first quarter. The Bulldogs never surrendered their lead after that, winning the fourth quarter battle 20-14 to earn their first win over UNA.
Callins continued to flash her early-season scoring prowess after being named the Atlantic Sun Conference Player of the Week, scoring in double figures for the sixth time this season.
Pegues matched her season-high in points with 14, while Clutter (6), senior guard Sara Wohlgemuth (5) and sophomore forward India Howard (5) led the battle on the boards for the Lions.
HOW IT HAPPENED
FIRST QUARTER: The game would start with the home team as the aggressors early, scoring the first two buckets of the game before India Howard opened the scoring for the Lions. Callins tied the game with her ensuing layup at 4-4, but the Bulldogs would go on a 7-0 run to extend the lead to 11-4. Callins and Pegues cut the Alabama A&M lead to two before the two teams exchanged scores. UNA earned their first lead of the game with a Callins' and-one before Clutter's layup and a Pegues three ended the first quarter with the Lions up 19-13.
SECOND QUARTER: India Howard and Pegues scored to open a competitive second quarter. Later, Pegues and Alyssa Clutter scored a three-pointer and layup, respectively, to increase the UNA lead by six with under six minutes to go in the quarter. The Bulldogs tacked on four points in the next four minutes of action until Sara Wohlgemuth broke the scoring drought with a layup at the one-minute mark. UNA would take a three-point lead into halftime, 31-28.
THIRD QUARTER: Alabama A&M came out with momentum to start quarter three, going on a 6-0 run to grab the lead. Clutter opened the scoring for UNA with a layup, but the Bulldogs would respond with five-straight points to increase their lead. Wohlgemuth started to heat up with five points herself in one minute, but Alabama A&M continued to their offensive outburst with a 9-0 run. Freshman guard Katie Criswell brought the A&M lead to single digits with a three with Callins' layup rounding out the scoring for the third quarter down 50-43.
FOURTH QUARTER: In the final quarter of action, four free throws began the scoring in the competitive matchup, with UNA hitting one while the Bulldogs hit three. Alabama A&M would score the first two shots in open play with consecutive jumpers to hold a 57-44 advantage in the fourth. Pegues' layup at the 6:01 mark to secure UNA's first open-play points before two straight layups from the Bulldogs answered the Lions' basket. North Alabama outscored Alabama A&M 5-2 at the 2:50 mark in the comeback attempt, but the Bulldogs continued to put points on the board, scoring seven points in the final three minutes of action to seal a 70-57 win at home.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
· 3 – Three UNA players scored in double figures for the Lions, with Callins, Pegues and Clutter leading the way offensively. Callins and Pegues finished tied with a team-high 14 points, with Clutter second with 11 points. All three players scored five field goals in the game.
· 34 – North Alabama held the rebound advantage against the Bulldogs, grabbing 34 rebounds to Alabama A&M's 28 rebounds. This was the first time UNA would win the rebound battle in a game since the season opener against Tennessee Southern.
· 26 – The amount of points off of turnovers that the Lions scored against the Bulldogs. The Lions took advantage of the 13 turnovers from Alabama A&M, averaging two points per turnover committed by the hosts.
· 6 – The number of games that UNA has led the three-point battle against their opponents this season. With six threes made to the Bulldogs' five, North Alabama has led the way in the three-point battle in six of their seven games played this season.
COMING UP NEXT
UNA will have a week in-between their next outing on the court, hosting Fisk University in a home game in CB&S Bank Arena inside Flowers Hall. The game will be scheduled for a 6 p.m. tipoff.
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
