JONESBORO, Ark. (December 13, 2023) – North Alabama Women's Basketball continues their three-game non-conference roadtrip on Thursday in Jonesboro, Ark. with a meeting against Sun Belt Conference opponent Arkansas State. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.
The Lions dropped a tightly-contested matchup to Chattanooga in their last outing on Saturday, 68-65. UNA had three double-digit scorers, led by senior guard Alexis Callins with 18 points, but the Mocs hit a late go-ahead layup with 23 seconds left to end a back-and-forth affair and secure the home victory.
The game also saw the UNA debut of graduate forward and Alabama Crimson Tide transfer Allie Craig Cruce, who contributed eight points in nine minutes off the bench.
North Alabama seeks its first non-conference road win of the season on Thursday and in what will be the first of two trips to Arkansas. The other will take place in March during conference play at Central Arkansas to end the regular season.
Tickets are available for purchase through Ticketmaster. Live stats will be provided courtesy of Statsbroadcast, and the game will be available for streaming on ESPN+. Radio will also be provided courtesy of "The Voice of the Lions" Benjamin Ray on WLX 98.3 and 103.5 FM.
MATCHUP
North Alabama at Arkansas State
Thursday, December 12, 2023
7 p.m.
Game Notes | Listen | Live Stats | Tickets | Watch
NOTES
SCOUTING THE LIONS: The Lions enter Saturday with a 3-6 record, searching for their first road win of the season against the Red Wolves. All three of North Alabama's wins have come against at home against UT Southern (Nov. 6), UT Martin (Nov. 21) and Fisk (Dec. 5). The Lions consistently find ways to score, averaging 72.3 points per game to rank third in the Atlantic Sun Conference. UNA ranks in the top three in free throw percentage (76.9 percent/first), three-point percentage (35 percent/second), three-pointers made per game average (8.8 PG/third) and field goal percentage (42.5 percent/third) among ASUN teams.
SCOUTING THE RED WOLVES: Arkansas State is located in Jonesboro, Ark. and competes at the NCAA Division I level in the Sun Belt (SBC), having joined in 1991. The Red Wolves have 12 intercollegiate athletic programs and began playing women's basketball in 1974 with an all-time record of 783-621. In the last outing, Arkansas State beat Louisiana Tech at home last Saturday, 69-58. The Red Wolves' leading scorer is junior guard Izzy Higginbottom (23.3 PPG), and they are coached by second-year head coach Destinee Rogers. Arkansas State is 4-3 on the season, including a 4-1 record at home.
SERIES HISTORY: The Lions and Red Wolves have only met once on the court, with the first meeting coming last season. On Dec. 8, 2022, a balanced offensive attack led by guard Emma Kate Tittle's 23 points sparked UNA to 82-68 comeback win. UNA trailed 40-34 at halftime before dominating the second half by a 48-28 advantage.
CRUCE SHOWS PROMISE IN DEBUT: Graduate forward Allie Craig Cruce showed flashes of promise in her first outing as a Lion, scoring eight points in nine minutes of action in her debut for North Alabama. The Killen, Ala. and Lauderdale County High School standout went 42.9 percent from the field, including going 2-4 from behind the arc, and collected two rebounds, one assist and one steal to round out her first performance in a UNA uniform.
CALLINS CONTINUES TO SCORE: Senior guard Alexis Callins has consistently found ways to put the ball in the basket this season, as she leads the team in scoring and is fourth in the ASUN with 16.6 points per game. Scoring in double figures in all nine games this season, Callins is the spark that makes the Lions' offense go. She's on pace to finish with the highest points per game average since Emma Wallen (18.3 PPG) in 2017-2018. It would also mark the highest average in the Division I era.
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
