COLUMBIA, Mo. (December 20, 2025) – The University of North Alabama women's basketball team faces the Missouri Tigers to end non-conference play on Sunday, Dec. 21 in Columbia, Mo.
North Alabama is set for its third game of the week and the final contest of the 2025 calendar year. UNA goes for win number six on the season with one final game before the Atlantic Sun Conference schedule begins in January.
This marks the second contest for UNA against an opponent from the Southeastern Conference. UNA previously faced then-No. 6 Oklahoma on Nov. 14 in Norman, Okla.
North Alabama and Missouri are set to play at noon in Mizzou Arena. The game will be streamed on SEC Network+, and live stats will be provided through StatBroadcast. Tickets are available for purchase through Missouri's ticket office.
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 Missouri
Date: Sunday, December 21
Time: Noon
Location: Columbia, Mo.
Venue: Mizzou Arena
Tickets: Click Here
Watch: SEC Network+
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
Social Media: @UNAwbb
NOTES
LAST TIME OUT: The Lions were defeated by the Alabama A&M Bulldogs last time out, 72-57, on Dec. 17. Sophomore Sofia Ceppellotti and senior Alexsandra Alvarado scored in double figures, but a second-half Alabama A&M surge led to the Bulldogs taking the home win.
SCOUTING THE LIONS: UNA is sporting a 5-5 record on the season. UNA shoots at a 39 percent clip from the field while limiting opponents to 35.7 percent shooting. The team leads opponents in three-point shooting percentage (.284 to .254), rebounds (412-391) and blocks (33-31). North Alabama holds a significant advantage in assists with 133 total to opponents' 90 on the season. UNA is pacing teams in offensive rebounding with a 132-121 advantage while leading 280-270 in defensive rebounds. The Lions continue to lead in quarter scoring for the first, second and third periods.
SCOUTING MISSOURI: The Tigers are 10-3 overall this season. Missouri has been victorious in six of its past seven contests, last time out defeating Saint Louis on the road, 82-66, on Dec. 14. The Tigers are off to a solid start in 2025-26, coming off a 14-18 record in 2024-25 with a 3-13 record in the SEC. Missouri is led offensively by three players in double figures: Grace Slaughter (18.9 points per game), Shannon Dowell (16.4) and Jordana Reisma (11.2). The Tigers are led by first-year head coach Kellie Harper.
SERIES HISTORY: North Alabama will look for its first-ever win against Missouri in the third all-time meeting.
AMONG THE RANKS: North Alabama ranks in the top three in ASUN statistics in six categories as of Dec. 20. They are second in opponent three-point percentage (25.4 percent) and opponent field-goal percentage (35.7 percent). UNA is third in scoring defense (62.3 per game), opponent free-throw percentage (71.5 percent), total rebounds (41.2 per game) and bench points (25.2 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 three-point percentage (27th), opponent field-goal percentage (48th), total rebounds (60th), defensive rebounds (62nd) and bench points (80th).
RIGHT UP HER ALLEY: Alvarado leads the team in scoring at 11.7 points per game on 43 percent shooting. She is UNA's current three-pointers made leader with 22 at a 36.7 percent clip. She is sixth in the ASUN in three-pointers made per game (2.2 per game) and tied for 17th in the ASUN in scoring average. Defensively, Alvarado is tied for 16th in steals per game (1.3).
SOFIA SHINES: Ceppellotti has been having a breakout campaign in year two, averaging 11.6 points per game. She's second on the team in both scoring average and rebounding totals, averaging 6.1 rebounds per game. The Italy native is tied for ninth in the ASUN in made three-pointers (1.7 per game), tied for 13th in the ASUN in rebounding and 19th in scoring.
GABBY GETS IT!: Freshman Gabby Jackson is the team leader in total rebounds with 57 for a 5.7 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 16th in the ASUN in rebounds per game.
BUKKY BUCKETS: Graduate Bukky Akinsola has shown veteran leadership in multiple aspects of the game. Averaging 7.4 points per game, Akinsola has also made her mark in the playmaking and defense category. She has the team-high in total assists (35) and steals (16). Akinsola is fourth in the conference in assist/turnover ratio (1.5), tied for eighth in assists per game (3.5 per game), and tied for ninth in steals per game (1.6).
VENLA THE VERSATILE: Sophomore Venla Ulander has been making strides in her first season of action for UNA. She averages 5.1 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 14th in the ASUN with 0.8 per game. Ceppellotti ranks tied for 19th at 0.7 per game along with senior India Howard.
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
