FLORENCE, Ala. (February 17, 2024) – The University of North Alabama women's basketball team clinched its spot in the 2024 Atlantic Sun Conference tournament on Saturday with an 88-66 contest over the Bellarmine Knights at CB&S Bank Arena.
The Lions won their 11th game of the season against the Knights, also winning their seventh ASUN game. UNA's offense had its most efficient performance of the season, shooting a season-high 56.9 percent in the offensive explosion. North Alabama scored its second-highest point total at home this season to cement a win on Senior Day and clinch a postseason berth in the ASUN tournament.
Prior to the game, UNA honored seniors Ruth Balogun, Allie Craig Cruce and Alexis Callins, as well as manager Jordan Smith.
UNA gained the early lead after one period of play, 20-13, before a defensive-heavy second quarter sent the hosts into halftime holding onto a 34-29 lead.
The offenses from both teams improved their shooting percentages, but UNA scored 23 points on 52.9 percent shooting to extend their lead to double-digits. A 31-point outburst in the fourth on a whopping 92.3 percent shooting provided the Lions the spark to see the win out and sweep the season series against the Knights.
The Lions had four scorers in double figures, led by Callins with a game-high 22 points on 8-13 shooting. Freshman guard Veronaye Charlton was second in scoring with 14 points followed by forward India Howard with 12 points. Cruce rounded out the double-digit scorers for UNA with 11 points.
Charlton was on triple-double watch all game, adding on eight rebounds and seven assists to her 12 points. Howard surpassed her career high in points in a UNA uniform with 12 points, tacking on six rebounds and a game-high four blocks. Callins also surpassed a career milestone with her 200th career three pointer, a feat she achieved in the first quarter on her first shot of the game.
HOW IT HAPPENED
FIRST QUARTER: The Lions got off to a great start in the opening quarter with 50 percent shooting, taking the lead early on Senior Day. UNA proved efficient in their shot selection, hitting 7-14 from the field compared to the 23 shots taken by Bellarmine. Despite the shot attempts, the North Alabama defense limited the Knights to 26.1 percent shooting on only six made baskets. Five Lions scored in the opening period, led by freshman guard Katie Criswell with six points.
SECOND QUARTER: Both teams used a defensive quarter to limit the scoring of the other, but North Alabama still controlled things leading to the halftime break. Even though the Lions hit no threes in the period, UNA hit five shots on one less attempt — 5-14 for UNA compared to 5-15 for Bellarmine — while going 4-4 from the free throw line. Solid free throw shooting and a 14-6 advantage in points in the paint made the difference early as UNA took a 34-29 lead into halftime.
THIRD QUARTER: The second half for both teams was better in terms of shooting. North Alabama's offense shot 52.9 percent from the floor as Callins would come alive with nine third-quarter points. She was a perfect 3-3 from the field with all her points coming from long distance. Bellarmine had their best quarter from the field at 41.7 percent (5-12), but the strong quarter from the Lions helped gain further control in the home matchup. Charlton was on triple-double watch with 11 points, eight rebounds and seven assists with the Lions leading after three, 57-45.
FOURTH QUARTER: The final period from Florence all but confirmed UNA's win over the Knights with the Lions shooting a scorching 92.3 percent from the field for a 31-point outburst. Six different Lions scored in the quarter with a big quarter from sophomore forward India Howard with eight points, four rebounds and a block. All but one player shot a perfect 100 percent from the field, with Callins the lone Lion to miss but still hitting two of her three shots. The quarter was capped with freshman guard Chloe Siegel scoring six quick points near the end to clinch the final regular season home win for UNA this season, 88-66.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
· 22 – The Lions got back to their winning ways against the Knights with the 22-point win. UNA broke a three-game skid with the victory, while posting the largest win margin against an ASUN team since the 79-60 win over Kennesaw State back on Jan. 24. It's also the largest win overall since the 95-60 win over Fisk on Dec. 5, 2023.
· 56.9% – After tough results offensively in the last three contests, UNA's offense exploded with its best offensive game. Fueled by a 92.3 percent shooting quarter in the fourth, 56.9 percent is the highest North Alabama has shot in a game this season to surpass the 53.4 percent game against UTEP on Nov. 26, 2023.
· 42 – North Alabama's offense was the most efficient its been all season, as the Lions had a 42-24 advantage in the paint.
· 9 – UNA had nine blocks in the contest. This tied a season-high in the category, achieving the feat twice before against Queens and Jacksonville.
· 6 – This is the number of free boneless wings that fans can retrieve at the Buffalo Wild Wings location in Florence after every UNA win with the purchase of six wings. Fans are encouraged to show their ticket or the social media graphic to retrieve the offer.
COMING UP NEXT
UNA Women's Basketball will conclude the regular season with three-straight road matchups, beginning at Lipscomb on Thursday, Feb. 22. Tipoff from Nashville is scheduled for 6 p.m.
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
