RICHMOND, Ky. (January 19, 2024) – The University of North Alabama women's basketball team will continue its road trip in Kentucky, facing off against EKU in Baptist Health Arena on Saturday.
The game will tip off at 4 p.m. EST in Richmond and 3 p.m. CST for fans following along in the Shoals.
The Lions continue Atlantic Sun Conference play after securing their first road conference win against the Bellarmine Knights on Thursday, 91-90. Led by a career night by sophomore guard Alyssa Clutter, UNA was able to defeat the Knights in overtime after playing to a stalemate in regulation. The competitive bout came down to the final shot, as Clutter took the ball coast-to-coast for the game-winning layup with five seconds remaining.
Both teams are meeting for the first of two regular season games this season. The Colonels and Lions meet again on Feb. 15 in EKU's return trip to CB&S Bank Arena at Flowers Hall.
Tickets are available for purchase through Etix. Live stats will be provided courtesy of Statbroadcast, and the game will be available for streaming on ESPN+.
MATCHUP
North Alabama at EKU
Saturday, January 20, 2024
3 p.m.
Game Notes | Live Stats | Tickets | Watch
NOTES
SCOUTING THE LIONS: UNA enters with a 6-11 overall record and a 2-2 record in ASUN play. North Alabama ranks third in the ASUN with 71.9 points per game. UNA also ranks among the top three ASUN teams in the following categories: free throw percentage (75 percent/first), three-point percentage (32.8 percent/second), three pointers per game (8.5 per game/second), team field goal percentage (42.9 percent/second), team assists (15 per game/third) and bench points per game (23/third).
SCOUTING THE COLONELS: EKU sports a 13-5 record entering Saturday, posting an undefeated 7-0 record at home, 5-4 record on the road and 1-1 in neutral site games. The Colonels are tied with UNA, Austin Peay and Stetson in the conference standings with a 2-2 start. The leading scorer is the ASUN Preseason Player of the Year & graduate guard Antwainette Walker, who leads the ASUN with 20.5 PPG. The head coach of the Colonels is Greg Todd in his third year at the helm.
SERIES HISTORY: North Alabama and EKU are meeting for the fourth time with the Lions leading the series 2-1. The Lions won the first two meetings in 2021-22, including an 88-86 double overtime win in Florence. UNA is an even 1-1 when playing on the road against the Colonels. In the last meeting between the two teams, EKU used a strong first quarter en route to a wire-to-wire win at home on Feb. 16, 2023.
ALL THAT CLUTTERS IS GOLD: Clutter had one of the best games of her UNA career on Thursday, leading the way against Bellarmine with career-highs in points (23) and rebounds (11). She also led the team in assists with four and steals with five — one shy of tying career-highs in each. The Washington, Penn. native's biggest moment came in the waning seconds of overtime, going coast-to-coast for the go-ahead layup in the final seconds.
CRUCE NAMED ASUN NEWCOMER OF THE WEEK: Graduate forward Allie Craig Cruce was named Atlantic Sun Conference Newcomer of the Week on Tuesday. In two contests against Austin Peay and Lipscomb, Cruce started both games and played nearly 60 minutes. She averaged 21.5 points per game on 60.9 percent shooting, adding 4.5 rebounds per contest for her first career ASUN honor. She scored a career-high 27 points in the Lions' 79-75 victory over the Govs, then followed the performance with 16 points against Lipscomb two days later.
NO PRESSURE: Free throws may be free, but North Alabama has made teams pay from the charity stipe this season. The Lions lead the ASUN in free-throw percentage and rank No. 64 in the nation at an even 75 percent. Only two other ASUN teams — Central Arkansas and Jacksonville — are above 70 percent at the line.
CALLINS CAN SCORE (A LOT): Callins' 14.9 PPG ranks fourth in the ASUN and is on pace for a new Division I-era record at UNA for individual season scoring average. Callins leads the ASUN with 2.7 three pointers per game with 46 makes. Callins' three-point game is nationally ranked 25th in total makes and 32nd in makes per game.
CHARLTON KEEPS IT COOL: Freshman guard Veronaye Charlton continues to make an impact in her first season at UNA. Charlton brings energy whenever she touches the court, but her calling card is remaining cool, calm and collected from the charity stripe. She checks in at 85.4 percent from the line, leading the ASUN and ranking 56th nationally.
DROPPING DIMES: Senior guard Sara Wohlgemuth is in the ASUN lead and ranks 32nd nationally with 5.5 assists per game. Her 93 assists lead the ASUN, as well, with a 27th national ranking. She is also second in the ASUN with a 1.69 assist/turnover ratio.
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagr
