FLORENCE, Ala. (January 23, 2024) – The University of North Alabama women's basketball team returns home on Wednesday, Jan. 24 to meet the Kennesaw State Owls at CB&S Bank Arena inside Flowers Hall at 6 p.m.
Wednesday is UNA's "Kruz'n for a Kure" game in support of raising awareness for SIOD research. For more information, click here.
The Lions return to Florence for the midweek matchup after a two-game road trip in Kentucky. UNA faced off against Bellarmine and EKU, taking a 91-90 overtime win against the Knights before falling to EKU, 67-58.
The win over Bellarmine saw the Lions earn their first overtime win of the season and their first road conference victory. The game came down to the last shot, but defense and sophomore guard Alyssa Clutter's go-ahead layup with five seconds left clinched the victory for UNA in the back-and-forth affair.
This will serve as the first of a two-game week, with the Lions traveling to Charlotte, N.C. to play Queens this Saturday.
Premium Seating at CB&S Bank Arena is sold out for the year, but general admission season tickets and single game tickets are still available. For ticket information, contact bbond@una.edu, call 256-765-5466 or visit online at this link.
Parking is available to the general public along the streets of Circular Road and Stewart Avenue, as well as the parking lot in front of Rice and Rivers Hall and the parking garage. Lots A, B and C at the Bill Jones Athletic Complex and below the arena are reserved parking spaces. There is also paid parking below the Science Building off Circular Road.
MATCHUP
North Alabama vs. Kennesaw State
Wednesday, January 24, 2024
6 p.m.
Game Notes | Listen | Live Stats | Tickets | Watch
NOTES
SCOUTING THE LIONS: North Alabama checks in at 6-12 on the season and 2-3 in ASUN play. UNA continues to hold the third spot in the ASUN with 71.1 points per game. UNA also ranks among the top three ASUN teams in the following categories: free throw percentage (74.5 percent/first), three-point percentage (32.8 percent/second), three pointers per game (8.3 per game/second), team field goal percentage (42.5 percent/third), team assists (14.72 per game/third) and bench points per game (22.4/third).
SCOUTING THE OWLS: Kennesaw State comes into Wednesday's matchup with an 8-10 record and a 4-1 ASUN record, ranking third in the ASUN standings. The Owls are 6-3 at home, but 1-6 on the road and 1-1 in neutral site play. Kennesaw State is one of the more defensive-minded teams in the conference, ranking in the top-three in blocked shots (3.61/second) and total defense (60.6/third). The leading scorer is junior forward Prencis Harden with 13.5 PPG, ranking sixth in the ASUN. The head coach Octavia Blue in her fourth year.
SERIES HISTORY: North Alabama leads the all-time series against Kennesaw State with a 5-3 record — all in the ASUN. The Lions are 4-0 when playing the Owls at home, including the last time out with a 75-70 result on Jan. 3, 2021. In last season's meeting, UNA outscored KSU 36-24 in the second half to tie the game and ultimately defeat the Owls in overtime, 69-66. It marked UNA's first win at Kennesaw State in series history.
CRISWELL NAMED ASUN FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK: Freshman guard Katie Criswell was named Atlantic Sun Conference Freshman of the Week, the league announced on Monday. In two contests against Bellarmine and EKU last week, Criswell started both games and averaged 8.5 points per game on a 47.1 shooting percentage. She averaged four rebounds per game, while totaling four assists, five blocks and a steal. In the Lions' 91-90 overtime win against the Knights, the Lawrence County, Tenn. native finished with a career-high 13 points on 6-9 shooting with a career-high six rebounds, two assists, one block and one steal.
1K WATCH: Alexis Callins continues to approach a career scoring mark, with the senior only needing 20 points to reach 1,000 in her UNA career. Callins would become the 18th Lion to join the exclusive club in program history and has the chance to continue to climb leaderboard in career scoring.
COUNT ON CLUTTER: Clutter ranks in the top five in minutes per game, proving to be one of the most dependable players in the ASUN. The do-it-all guard's 31.8 minutes per game ranks fifth in the conference, all while averaging career highs this season.
NO PRESSURE: The Lions lead the ASUN in free-throw percentage and rank No. 76 in the nation at 74.5 percent. Leading by a 3.5 percent margin, 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 49 makes. Callins' three-point game is nationally ranked 24th in total makes and 26th 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 84.6 percent from the line, leading the ASUN and ranking 62nd nationally.
DROPPING DIMES: Senior guard Sara Wohlgemuth is in the ASUN lead and ranks 38th nationally with 5.2 assists per game. Her 94 assists lead the ASUN, as well, with a 39th national ranking. She is also second in the ASUN with a 1.62 assist/turnover ratio.
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
