DENVER, Colo. (December 21, 2024) – The University of North Alabama women's basketball team played its final non-conference road bout of the season Saturday afternoon, dropping a 78-70 contest to the Denver Pioneers in Colorado.
In UNA's first-ever contest at Denver, the Lions (4-6) battled the Pioneers (7-6) in a defensive showing to start. Fourteen points were scored by both teams in the opening period, but North Alabama responded with a 28-point second quarter to gain the halftime advantage. UNA ended the period on a 12-2 run, turning a 22-21 deficit in the second to a 33-24 lead.
Both the Lions and Pioneers came out swinging in the second half, combining for 45 points to set up a decisive fourth-quarter. Denver would continue its hot shooting in the final period, outscoring North Alabama 30-16 to retake the lead. The Lions trimmed the deficit to within four with under a minute left, but free throws sealed the home win for the Pioneers.
Three Lions scored in double figures, led by junior Cameron Jones with a career-high 17-point performance. Senior Charity Gallegos had her eighth double-digit scoring game of the season with 15 points, rounded out by junior Jazzy Klinge with 11 – tying her season high.
Gallegos led the Lions on the boards and in playmaking with a season-high seven rebounds and four assists. Jones and Klinge had six rebounds each. Jones, Gallegos and India Howard had a block apiece.
Klinge and Gallegos tied the team lead for steals with one, along with graduate Sara Wohlgemuth and junior Rhema Pegues.
HOW IT HAPPENED
FIRST QUARTER: DEN 9, UNA 5
The matchup in the Mile High City began with a defensive opening quarter, as both teams combined for 14 points to start the contest. North Alabama forced the Pioneers into shooting at a 26.7 percent clip, with Denver also going 1-8 from behind the arc. Gallegos (3) and junior Emma Kate Tittle (2) scored the lone points for UNA heading into the second period.
SECOND QUARTER: UNA 33, DEN 24
The North Alabama offense came alive in the second period, scoring 28 points to head into halftime with the lead. UNA secured its most points in a quarter this season as the Lions shot a scorching 80 percent (12-15 from the field) while hitting their only attempted three-pointer. A back-and-forth affair turned into a quarter-ending 12-2 UNA run, with the North Alabama turning a 22-21 deficit in its favor in the final three minutes. Defensively, UNA continued to lock down the Pioneer's shooting to the tune of 33.3 percent (5-15) from the field and 16.7 percent (1-6) from three. It was a team effort in scoring, with eight players registering scores for the Lions.
THIRD QUARTER: UNA 54, DEN 48
Both offenses picked it up to start the second half, but the Lions still maintained their lead with the fourth quarter impending. North Alabama shot an efficient 63.6 percent from the field, as Jones had 11 points on 4-4 shooting and three-made free throws. The Pioneers showed fight with 75 percent shooting while going 4-5 from deep.
FOURTH QUARTER: DEN 78, UNA 70
Denver's offense broke through in the final period of action, scoring 30 points to complete the second-half rally. The Pioneers opened with a 12-4 run to open the quarter, with all 12 coming from behind the arc. Denver stayed hot following a UNA timeout, extending its lead to 10 with the score at 72-62. The Lions continued to fight with time winding down, trimming the deficit to four with 35 seconds left. With the score at 74-70, Denver made four free throws to ice the game.
UP NEXT
The Lions will cap the 2024 calendar year in CB&S Bank Arena next time out, facing Bethel on Saturday, Dec. 28 at 2 p.m.
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
