FLORENCE, Ala. (January 5, 2023) – The University of North Alabama women's basketball team returns to CB&S Bank Arena in Florence this Saturday to begin Atlantic Sun Conference play against the Central Arkansas Sugar Bears at 5 p.m.
The Lions return after wrapping up their non-conference schedule in 2023, dropping a road contest on New Year's Eve against the Auburn Tigers, 79-58. UNA's comes into conference play with four wins on the season, including victories against UT Southern, UT Martin and Fisk at home and a road win over Samford.
Central Arkansas marks the first ASUN conference matchup of the season for UNA, with the teams meeting for the first of two regular season games this season. The Sugar Bears and Lions will meet in both teams' final ASUN conference match on March 2 in UNA's return trip to Conway, Ark.
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. Central Arkansas
Saturday, January 6, 2023
5 p.m.
Game Notes | Listen | Live Stats | Tickets | Watch
NOTES
SCOUTING THE LIONS: With non-conference play complete, the second half of the season finds UNA with a 4-9 record and looking to begin 1-0 in 2024. The Lions' offense was ranked consistently in the top three in the ASUN during non-conference games, averaging 71 points per game to rank third in the ASUN. Free throw percentage (78.2 percent/first), three-point percentage (33.5 percent/second), team assists (14.77 per game/third) and team field goal percentage (42.7 percent/third) also were strong points for UNA, all ranking in the top three o the conference.
SCOUTING THE SUGAR BEARS: The Sugar Bears have an 8-5 record on the season, posting a 4-0 record at home, 4-4 record on the road and 0-1 in neutral location games. The leading scorer is junior guard Kinley Fisher, who has 12.4 points per game to rank eighth in the conference. Last time out, the Sugar Bears defeated Alabama A&M on the road, 65-59, to wrap up their non-conference schedule. The team is coached by Tony Kemper, in his first season with the team.
SERIES HISTORY: The Lions and Sugar Bears have played each other 10 times, with Central Arkansas leading the series, 6-4. The Lions ride a three-game win streak in the series. A home game for North Alabama, UNA is 3-1 when playing Central Arkansas in CB&S Bank Arena. In the last meeting on February 21, 2023, guard Emma Kate Tittle led all scorers with 16 points in the Lions' 75-42 victory in Conway, Ark.
BIG GAMES AT THE BANK: CB&S Bank Arena has been home to three career-setting games so far this season, with the performances coming in consecutive fashion. Senior guard Alexis Callins, sophomore guard Alyssa Clutter and freshman guard Veronaye Charlton have each had their own shining moments on the court, dropping career numbers in the previous home games against UT Martin, Fisk and Tennessee Tech, respectively. Callins scored a career-high 27 points against her hometown team from Martin, Tenn., while Clutter had her first career double-double against Fisk the following home game. Charlton had her highest-scoring home game against Tennessee Tech, scoring 25 against the Golden Eagles to surpass her previous career high of 21 against UTEP.
NO PRESSURE: Free throws may be free, but North Alabama has made teams pay from the charity stipe this season, coming in as nationally-ranked leaders in the category. Not only do the Lions lead the ASUN in free-throw percentage, but they also among the top-20 teams in the nation. The team's 78.2 percent average checks in 18th in the country, which puts UNA in similar company with No. 8 Stanford, No. 13 Virginia Tech, No. 18 Gonzaga, No. 21 Creighton and No. 22 Florida State. The current average would break North Alabama's Division I record by 3.1 percent if the season ended today and would be the most since 2008-2009, when the UNA shot 81.5 percent as a team.
CALLINS COMES IN HOT: Callins has had an excellent first half of the season, with the Martin, Tenn. native scoring career numbers in her fourth year at UNA. Her 16.8 points per game ranks third in the ASUN and would mark a new Division I high for scoring average in a season for UNA. Callins' mark would also be the highest since Emma Wallen in 2017-2018 with 18.3.
DROPPING DIMES: Senior guard Sara Wohlgemuth is in the ASUN lead and ranks 35th nationally with 5.4 assists per game. She is also second in the ASUN with a 1.67 assist/turnover ratio.
CLUTTER TIME: Clutter, who had a double-double against Fisk earlier this season, ranks second in the ASUN with 33.2 minutes per game. EKU's Ivy Turner is the league leader at 33.8 minutes per game. Clutter and Turner are the only two ASUN players above 33 minutes per game through non-conference play.
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
