RICHMOND, Ky. (January 10, 2025) – The University of North Alabama women's basketball team continues Atlantic Sun Conference play Saturday afternoon to take on the Eastern Kentucky University Colonels on the road in Richmond, Ky.
North Alabama returns to the Bluegrass State for a second time this season. After opening conference play with a win at Bellarmine, the Lions look to move to 2-0 in Kentucky road games. UNA, who is 2-1 in league play, will try to get back in the win column after its first ASUN loss against Austin Peay last time out.
The contest tips off from Baptist Health Arena at noon CT with tickets available for purchase on RoarLions.com. Live stats will be provided courtesy of StatBroadcast, and the game will be streamed on ESPN+.
Box scores and a recap will be posted on RoarLions.com following the action, but fans can follow along in real time on the UNA Women's Basketball social media pages.
GAME INFO
Game: North Alabama at EKU
Date: Saturday, January 11
Time: Noon CT / 1 p.m. ET
Location: Richmond, Ky.
Venue: Baptist Health Arena
Watch: ESPN+
Live Stats: Statbroadcast
Social Media: @UNAwbb
NOTES
LAST TIME OUT: North Alabama dropped an ASUN matchup for the first time on Wednesday, falling to the Austin Peay Govs in CB&S Bank Arena. The Governors picked up its second conference win in the outing, while UNA's three-game win streak came to a halt.
SCOUTING THE LIONS: The Lions had a perfect 2-0 start in conference games, marking the best start since the 2020-21 season. Gallegos's overtime heroics led in a 90-89 win at Bellarmine, while a second-quarter surge proved the difference in the home win against Jacksonville. Gallegos, India Howard and Alyssa Clutter all rank in the top 10 in conference play statistics after three games played. Gallegos is third in both scoring (20.3 per game) and free-throw percentage (.926) while tied for seventh in assists (3.7). Howard is second in blocked shots (2.3) and tied for 10th in rebounds (8.0), and Clutter rounds out the leaders in second with 10 rebounds per game.
SCOUTING EKU: The Colonels enter the matchup with an 11-5 overall record and 1-2 ASUN record. EKU will look to rebound from its last outing on Wednesday, falling to West Georgia on the road, 71-64. This concluded a four-game road stretch with two wins and two losses. The Colonels were picked fourth in the ASUN Preseason Coaches' Poll and fifth in ASUN Preseason Media Poll. The head coach for the Colonels is Greg Todd.
SERIES HISTORY: The Lions and Colonels will play the sixth all-time meeting, with EKU leading the series, 3-2. The Colonels took the series lead during the 2023-24 season, winning both home and away contests.
CHARITY'S CASE: Charity Gallegos leads North Alabama in scoring, averaging the fifth-most points in the ASUN with 14.6 points per game. In conference games, she is third in conference scoring with 20.3 PPG in the first three outings. Gallegos has also been the primary playmaker for the Lions, averaging the fourth-most assists in the ASUN with 4.1 per game. She was named the ASUN Conference's Player and Newcomer of the Week on Dec. 30, 2024. She followed the weekly honor with a career-high 32 points at Bellarmine on Jan. 2.
BOUND FOR REBOUNDS: The Lions are first in the Atlantic Sun Conference in total rebounds, averaging 42.8 per game. North Alabama holds the top spot in rebounding margin (+8.4) and defensive rebounds (28.8 per game), while third in offensive rebounds (14 per game). UNA's India Howard (10th/6.5 per game), Alyssa Clutter (13th/6.0), and Jazzy Klinge (T-18th/5.4) all rank in the top 25 in the conference rebounding statistics. North Alabama's efforts on the glass are also among the top 25 teams nationally, ranking 24th in rebounds per game and 27th in both defensive rebounds per game and rebounding margin.
LEADERBOARD LIONS: In addition to rebounding, North Alabama is among the top three ASUN teams in free-throw shooting, blocks and assists. The Lions are third in foul-line shooting (72.7 percent), also third in assists (14.21 per game) and blocks (3.29).
DOUBLE TROUBLE: North Alabama has had two players finish with double-doubles on the season in Clutter and Howard. Howard nabbed the first double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds against Cumberland. Clutter followed with a 14-point, 11-rebound outing at Arkansas-Pine Bluff, registering her second of the season with 17 points and 17 rebounds at Bellarmine. Howard recently had her second double-double versus Jacksonville – a 11-point, 14-rebound score line against the Dolphins.
HOWARD HOLDS IT DOWN: Howard has had a knack for blocking shots, enforcing her defensive presence with 21 blocks in 14 games. She's currently fourth in the conference in the category with 1.5 blocks per game. Howard also is top 10 in rebounding at 6.5 per game.
SUPER CAM: Cameron Jones is having a career year in her third season, with the Broadview Heights, Ohio native averaging a career-high 9.7 points per game and 5.4 rebounds per game. Jones has set multiple single-game career highs on the season, including a 17-point performance against Denver and nine rebounds against both Nebraska and Bellarmine.
KATIE'S KEEN ON DEFENSE: Sophomore Katie Criswell has also provided rim protection from the guard position, ranking tied for 15th in the ASUN with six blocked shots over 13 games for 0.5 per game.
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