CHARLOTTE, N.C. (January 26, 2024) – The University of North Alabama women's basketball team will face the Queens Royals in Atlantic Sun Conference basketball action this Saturday in Charlotte, N.C.
The game will tip off at 2 p.m. EST in Charlotte and 1 p.m. CST for fans following along in the Shoals.
The Lions are coming off of a strong 79-60 win over the Kennesaw State Owls, where UNA picked up its third win in conference play. Senior guard Alexis Callins scored her 1,000th career point in the win, finishing with a game-high 20 points.
Saturday marks UNA's first trip to Charlotte to face Queens and just the second all-time meeting in program history.
Tickets are available for purchase through the Queens Athletics ticket office. Live stats will be provided courtesy of Statbroadcast, and the game will be available for streaming on ESPN+.
MATCHUP
North Alabama at Queens
Saturday, January 27, 2024
1 p.m. (2 p.m. EST)
Game Notes | Live Stats | Tickets | Watch
NOTES
SCOUTING THE LIONS: UNA enters with a 7-12 overall record and a 3-3 record in ASUN play. North Alabama ranks third in the ASUN with 71.5 points per game. UNA also ranks among the top three ASUN teams in the following categories: free throw percentage (75.5 percent/first), three-point percentage (33.1 percent/second), team assists (14.8 per game/second), bench points per game (22.7/second), three pointers per game (8.4 per game/second), team field goal percentage (42.7 percent/third).
SCOUTING THE ROYALS: Queens is 6-13 overall entering Saturday, posting a 5-4 record at home and 1-9 record on the road. The Royals are in 12th place in the ASUN standings and in search of their first conference win. The leading scorer for Queens is junior guard Nicole Gwynn with 16.3 PPG, good for third in the ASUN. The head coach is Jen Brown, who is in her fourth year with the program.
SERIES HISTORY: The Lions and Royals have only played once in series history, dating back to Feb. 9, 2023. North Alabama defeated Queens 72-58 in the first meeting last season in Florence.
1K MAGIC: Alexis Callins became the first player to score 1,000 career points all in the Division I era Wednesday against Kennesaw State. A four-year mainstay, she also becomes the 18th player in all of UNA Women's Basketball history to achieve this milestone. The all-time leader in scoring at UNA is Ivy Wallen, who scored 1,762 points over four seasons — two at the Division II level and two at the Division I level.
CRISWELL NAMED ASUN FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK: Freshman guard Katie Criswell was named Atlantic Sun Conference Freshman of the Week, the league announced on Jan. 22. In two contests against Bellarmine and EKU, 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.
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. 54 in the nation at an even 75.5 percent. Only two other ASUN teams — Central Arkansas and Bellarmine — are above 70 percent at the line.
CALLINS CAN SCORE (A LOT): Callins' 15.2 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 2.9 three pointers per game with 55 makes. Callins' three-point game is nationally ranked in the top 20, as she is 17th in total makes and 14th 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 86.2 percent from the line, leading the ASUN and ranking 42nd nationally.
DROPPING DIMES: Senior guard Sara Wohlgemuth is in the ASUN lead and ranks 41st nationally with 5.2 assists per game. Her 98 assists lead the ASUN, as well, with a 39th national ranking. She is also second in the ASUN with a 1.66 assist/turnover ratio.
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
