FLORENCE, Ala. (December 5, 2023) – The University of North Alabama women's basketball team returned to its winning ways at CB&S Bank Arena inside Flowers Hall Tuesday night, as the Lion led wire-to-wire in a 95-60 win against the Fisk Lady Bulldogs for their third win of the season.
Five Lions scored in double figures for North Alabama, led by sophomore Alyssa Clutter with 18 points, 10 rebounds and five assists for her first career double-double. The Washington, Pa. also contributed on the defensive end with two steals and led all scorers with 10-11 shooting on free throws. The points and rebounds set new career-highs, while the assists matched a previous high set recently at UTEP.
Senior guard Alexis Callins (16), freshman guard Veronaye Charlton (12), junior guard Olivia Jones (11) and freshman guard Chloe Siegel (10) all finished in double figures in scoring as a balanced attack saw the Lions through in the midweek game.
It was all North Alabama from start to finish as the Lions gained the upper hand early and never surrendered it, leading by as many as 37 points in the fourth quarter. A strong shooting night at the free throw line (15-16 at 93.8 percent) and contributions from the three-point line (12 threes at 35.3 percent) led the charge in the sixth meeting between the two teams.
It was career scoring nights for Clutter and Jones, as they set new career marks in their efforts, while Callins continued a streak of double-digit scoring games with her eighth straight. Sophomore forward India Howard was one rebound short from having double-digit rebounds, while Charlton finished two assists short of her second career double-double to lead with eight. Charlton also had a game-high four steals.
HOW IT HAPPENED
FIRST QUARTER: Howard started things for UNA, winning the jump ball, blocking a shot and hitting the first layup of the game — all within the first minute. Callins hit a second North Alabama layup before Fisk would get on the board. UNA led 10-9 at the first media timeout. Then, sophomore guard Rhema Pegues opened her scoring in the game with a three out of the timeout, followed by Clutter earning a three-point play. Fisk would use a 6-0 run toward the end of the quarter to cut the deficit, but sophomore guard Emma Kate Tittle ended the quarter with five points to take UNA into the second quarter up 22-13.
SECOND QUARTER: A slower quarter opening for both teams saw no score until almost a full two minutes into the period when Clutter hit two free throws. The Lady Bulldogs had their first score of the quarter at the 7:45 mark, but the Lions answered with a 7-2 run to maintain a
31-17 score. North Alabama would again end the quarter strong, taking a 41-26 advantage into halftime.
THIRD QUARTER: Fisk started as the aggressors to start the second half, scoring the first bucket in the quarter before Callins matched with a score of her own. The defenses held strong early, preventing scores for both teams for the next two minutes until Fisk broke the scoring drought with a layup at the 5:31 mark. A hustle play from Pegues created an Olivia Jones three-pointer, while she also cashed in on a second-chance opportunity with a layup on the next possession. Both squads continued to score, but the Lions would use high scoring to take a 65-41 lead into the final quarter.
FOURTH QUARTER: Clutter got the Lions going in the final period of the action, scoring a layup plus the free throw to begin. The Bulldogs continued to show fight, rolling off an 8-0 run after Clutter's three-point play. North Alabama began to pick up their offensive production after that, outscoring Fisk 9-4 in the next two minutes to continue to hold a steady lead into the media timeout. The timeout would do nothing to quell the offense of the Lions, as UNA sparked a 7-0 run before a Bulldogs free throw ended their three-minute scoring drought. North Alabama made sure to end the quarter on a strong note, outscoring the Bulldogs 11-6 en route to a third win at home for UNA, 95-60. The fourth quarter brought 30 points for UNA and 49 points combined — the highest scoring quarter of the contest.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
· 5 – Five players scored in double figures in the home victory for the Lions. This marks the second game that North Alabama has had five scorers in double figures, joining UTEP.
· 51 – North Alabama held the rebound advantage against the Bulldogs, grabbing 51 rebounds to just 34 rebounds for Fisk. This marks the second game in a row where UNA won the rebound battle in a game, accomplishing the feat for the third time this season.
· 93.8 – The Lions' free-throw percentage for the game, converting 15-16 attempts from the line. UNA — the Atlantic Sun Conference leaders in team free throw percentage —continue to lead the way from foul line with tonight marking the highest single game percentage of the season.
· 2 - UNA has accomplished the rare feat of 100.0 percent shooting from the line as a team with at least 12 attempts just twice in program history — once against Lincoln Memorial in 1988 and recently against UT Southern in 2021. The Lions were one off setting a new record at 16-16 after a stellar night at the line.
· 3 – The number of games that North Alabama has had a player finish with a double-double. Clutter's 18-point, 10-rebound performance against Fisk added her name along with Sara Wohlgemuth (Nov. 14 at Missouri) and Charlton (Nov. 26 at UTEP) as the players to achieve the feat this season.
· 6 – This is the number of free boneless wings that fans can retrieve at the Buffalo Wild Wings location in Florence after every UNA win with the purchase of six wings. Fans are encouraged to show their ticket or the social media graphic to retrieve the offer.
COMING UP NEXT
The Lions hit the road for a short road trip next time out, facing off against the Chattanooga Mocs on Saturday, Dec. 9. Tipoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
