JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- With North Alabama holding a slim four point lead with 1:06 to play, the Lions hit 13 of 16 free throw attempts in the final minute to take a 65-54 win over Jacksonville in the final regular season game for both schools.
The win was UNA's fifth straight and the sixth in the last seven games for the Lions.
North Alabama closed its regular season with a 15-14 overall record and a 10-8 mark in ASUN Conference play.
UNA trailed 13-7 after the first quarter but recovered to take a 23-20 lead by halftime. The Lions outscored the Dolphins 23-17 in the third quarter for a 46-37 lead entering the final period.
With 1:06 left in the game, UNA's
Skyler Gill was fouled and Jacksonville was charged with a technical foul.
Hina Suzuki hit the two technical free throws and Gill hit both of her free throws to put UNA up by eight.
Olivia Jones hit three of four attempts and Suzuki hit six of eight as the Dolphins continued to foul.
Alexis Callins led UNA with 16 points, including hitting four three-point baskets.
Jade Moore scored 12 points and added eight rebounds. Gill finished with eight points, four rebounds and three blocked shots. The three blocks gave Gill 77 for the season, breaking the UNA single-season record. She broke her own record of 76 in 2021-22. All eight of Suzuki's points came at the free throw line.
The Lions had defeated the Dolphins 55-52 just six days ago in Florence.
UNA will begin play in the ASUN Conference Tournament on March 5 at 6:00 p.m. against Lipscomb in Nashville.
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