HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (December 16, 2025) – The University of North Alabama women's basketball team is set for a Wednesday night matchup to face the Alabama A&M Bulldogs in Huntsville, Ala.
North Alabama readies for its second game of the week, continuing its slate against in-state teams with a trip to nearby Huntsville. The Lions look to earn the sixth victory of the season and second win on the road. UNA is currently 3-1 against teams from Alabama this season.
The Lions face the Bulldogs at 6 p.m. in the AAMU Events Center. The game will be streamed on SWAC TV, and live stats will be provided through SIDEARM. Tickets are available for purchase through Alabama A&M's ticket office.
Fans can also tune in to Roar Lions Productions to catch Grant Wakefield on the call. The Countdown to Tipoff show begins at 5:40 p.m.
Full results and a recap will be posted on RoarLions.com following the action, but fans can also follow along in real time on the UNA Women's Basketball social media pages.
GAME INFO
Game: North Alabama at Alabama A&M
Date: Wednesday, December 17
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Location: Huntsville, Ala.
Venue: AAMU Events Center
Tickets: Click Here
Watch: SWAC TV
Listen: Roar Lions Productions (Grant Wakefield)
Live Stats: SIDEARM Live Stats
Social Media: @UNAwbb
NOTES
LAST TIME OUT: North Alabama's three-game win streak against in-state opponents was snapped in a 70-58 setback on Sunday, Nov. 14 at South Alabama in Mobile, Ala. Senior Alexsandra Alvarado had a prolific scoring display with a game-high 22-points, but the Jaguars withstood a second-half UNA rally to secure the home win.
SCOUTING THE LIONS: UNA is 5-4 on the season – currently tied for sixth in the Atlantic Sun Conference standings. UNA is maintaining a 38.7 percent clip shooting from the field while limiting opponents to 35 percent shooting. The team leads opponents in three-point shooting percentage (.270 to .255), rebounds (377-357) and blocks (33-28). North Alabama has a significant advantage in assists with 119 total to opponents' 76 on the season. UNA is pacing teams in offensive rebounding with a 121-105 advantage while leading 256-252 in defensive rebounds. The Lions lead in quarter scoring for the first, second and third periods.
SCOUTING ALABAMA A&M: The Bulldogs enter the matchup at 3-7 on the year. Alabama A&M's last game came on Dec. 10, falling 82-44 on the road at Minnesota. The Bulldogs sport non-conference wins against Talladega College and Tuskegee with the most recent victory vs. Miles College on Dec. 7. Alabama A&M looks to continue the success from the 2024-25 campaign in which the Bulldogs finished 21-11 with a 14-4 Southwestern Athletic Conference record. Alabama A&M has two players averaging double-digits in Coriah Beck (11.2 points per game) and Kalia Walker (10.8). Dawn E. Thornton is the head coach for the Bulldogs in her second season.
SERIES HISTORY: North Alabama and Alabama A&M meet for the 18th time in the series history with UNA leading, 15-2. The Bulldogs have claimed the previous two meetings in 2023 and 2024. The Lions last defeated Alabama A&M in a 66-48 home win on Nov. 22, 2022.
AMONG THE RANKS: North Alabama ranks in the top three in ASUN statistics in five categories as of Dec. 15. They are second in opponent three-point percentage (25.5 percent), opponent field-goal percentage (35 percent), and total rebounds (41.9 per game). UNA is third in blocked shots (3.67 per game) and bench points (26.2 per game).
TOP TIER: In addition to ASUN ranks, the Lions are in the top 100 nationally in five categories. North Alabama ranks nationally per game in opponent field-goal percentage (32nd), opponent three-point percentage (35th), total rebounds (46th), defensive rebounds (50th) and bench points (64th).
RIGHT UP HER ALLEY: Alvarado leads the team in scoring at 11.7 points per game on 43.3 percent shooting. She is UNA's current three-pointers made leader with 18 at a 35.3 percent clip. She is sixth in the ASUN in three-pointers made per game (two per game) and 17th in the ASUN in scoring average. Defensively, Alvarado is tied for 11th in steals per game (1.4).
SOFIA SHINES: Sophomore Sofia Ceppellotti has been having a breakout campaign in year two, averaging 11 points per game. She's second on the team in both scoring average and rebounding at six per game. The Italy native is 13th in the ASUN in rebounding, tied for 15th in made three-pointers (1.5 per game) and 19th in scoring.
GABBY GETS IT!: Freshman Gabby Jackson is the team leader in total rebounds with 53 for a 5.9 average. She has had at least four rebounds in all but one game with a season-high 13 at Tennessee State on Nov. 19. The Kansas City, Mo. native is tied for 14th in the ASUN in rebounds per game.
BUKKY BUCKETS: Graduate Bukky Akinsola has shown veteran leadership in multiple parts of the game. Averaging 7.3 points per game, Akinsola has made her mark in the playmaking and defense category. She has the team-high in total assists (30) while tied for first in steals (13) with Alvarado. Akinsola is fifth in the conference in assist/turnover ratio (1.7), 10th in assists per game (3.3 per game), and tied for 11th in steals per game (1.4).
VENLA THE VERSATILE: Sophomore Venla Ulander has been making strides in her first season of action for UNA. She averages 5.5 points per game with the all-around forward playing efficient basketball on both sides of the floor. Ulander tallied her first career double-double on Dec. 7 against Samford, securing a team-high 21 points with 10 rebounds.
NOTHING EASY: North Alabama has three players ranked in the top 25 in blocked shots. Junior Katie Criswell leads the team with eight blocks, ranking her tied for 10th in the ASUN with 0.9 per game. Ceppellotti ranks tied for 16th at 0.8 per game along with senior India Howard. Howard secured her 100th career block last time out vs. South Alabama on Dec. 14.
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