FLORENCE, Ala. (December 28, 2024) – The University of North Alabama women's basketball team will head into 2025 with a home win, pushing past the Bethel Wildcats 84-54 in a strong display Saturday afternoon inside CB&S Bank Arena in Florence.
The first meeting in almost 30 years, North Alabama (5-6) took on the challenge of Bethel, who entered with a 12-0 record and a No. 16 ranking in the national NAIA poll. The game counted toward UNA's record but is considered an exhibition for Bethel.
Senior Charity Gallegos led North Alabama in scoring with 25 points – the highest by a Lion all season. She surpassed the 21 scored by junior Emma Kate Tittle against UT Martin, finishing an efficient 10-14 from the floor and 3-4 from three. Gallegos also tallied a game-high seven assists, seven rebounds and two steals.
Three more Lions registered double figures in sophomore Katie Criswell (15) and the junior tandem of Cameron Jones (13) and Alyssa Clutter (10). For Criswell, it marked her second double-digit scoring outing of the season, with both Jones and Clutter nabbing their fifth, respectively.
Junior India Howard led with nine rebounds. Five Lions tallied five or more rebounds in the outing, including Howard, Gallegos, Criswell, Clutter and junior Jazzy Klinge. Eleven players had at least one board. Howard also extended her team-lead in blocks with four on the day.
UNA's final non-conference game of the season opened with both the Wildcats and Lions starting with solid offense, but UNA struck first to take a 25-18 lead after the opening period. The Lions shot a steady 42.9 percent from the field to gain the upper hand, but Bethel showed up as well with the Wildcats shooting at 53.3 percent.
The second quarter saw the Lions extend the lead to double-digits, capped off by UNA scoring on its first seven shots of the quarter. The defensive efforts of North Alabama also stepped up, as a 38.9 shooting period for Bethel meant a 44-32 halftime score line.
The Lions carried the second-quarter momentum into the third, shooting 66.7 percent for a second straight period to surge ahead further. The UNA defense proved strong in the second half, holding the Wildcats to 23.5 percent shooting.
UNA set new single-game season highs in the home matchup, securing its most field goals made (32), field-goal percentage (.516) and blocked shots (7). The Lions registered its second-highest point total with 84 points, along with the second-most team rebounds (52) and team assists (18).
The Lions held Bethel to its lowest scoring total of the season at 54 points. Also, prior to today, Bethel had not lost a game since its exhibition at Murray State on Oct. 30. This includes 12 NAIA wins and an exhibition win over Austin Peay.
HOW IT HAPPENED
FIRST QUARTER: UNA 25, BU 18
Both teams came to play to start the contest, opening with 43 combined points. The Lions shot a solid 42.9 percent from the field, with both Cameron Jones and Charity Gallegos scoring eight points each in the quarter. The Wildcats made it a competitive opening period, shooting 53.3 percent from the floor and 50 percent from three.
SECOND QUARTER: UNA 44, BU 32
North Alabama's efforts from the first continued in quarter two, extending the lead to double digits. The Lions' offense had a hot start to open the quarter, knocking down their first seven shots. The first miss came with 3:19 left to play, as the quarter was dominated on the offensive end by UNA. North Alabama's defense was also a factor, outshooting Bethel 66.7 percent to just 38.9 percent and 0-4 from behind the arc. Rebounding continued to be a strong suit for UNA, as the Lions held a 26-9 advantage halfway through.
THIRD QUARTER: UNA 68, BU 49
UNA's offense picked up where it left off from the first half, using efficient scoring and defense to further cushion its lead. North Alabama shot 66.7 percent for the second-straight quarter, going 10-15 with a made three pointer and three made free throws. The Lions showed the ability to get easy scores in the paint, as UNA finished the period with 18 points in the paint. Seven Lions scored in the quarter — including seven points from Clutter — as UNA's lead increase to as high as 25 points. Bethel's offense had no answer, finishing the period with 35.3 percent shooting from the floor.
FOURTH QUARTER: UNA 84, BU 54
The Lions held the Wildcats to five points in the final period. UNA forced Bethel into its lowest quarter shooting percentage of the game at just 11.8 percent. Meanwhile, North Alabama also extended its lead behind six scorers. Gallegos scored six of her 25 points in the final frame.
UP NEXT
Atlantic Sun Conference play begins for North Alabama on Thursday, Jan. 2 at Bellarmine. First tip from Louisville is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
