FLORENCE, Ala. (February 20, 2025) – The University of North Alabama women's basketball team dropped a hard-fought battle in CB&S Bank Arena on Thursday, narrowly falling to the Lipscomb Bisons, 61-58.
North Alabama (12-14, 7-8 ASUN) returned to CB&S Bank Arena for its first home contest since Feb. 1, engaging in a four-quarter bout in the return to Florence. The Lions and Lipscomb (17-9, 10-5) battled to the very end, but Lipscomb's Molly Heard made an and-one layup with four seconds left. UNA's final three pointer was unsuccessful at the buzzer.
The win secured Lipscomb's second win over UNA this season. The victory also snaps a four-game home winning streak. The last home defeat came on Jan. 8 against Austin Peay.
Lipscomb got out to an early advantage after one quarter down, using defense and an efficient 57.1 percent shooting from the floor en route to a 17-9 advantage after the first quarter of play.
Needing a response, the Lions answered with their highest scoring quarter in the game with 19 points. Junior India Howard and sophomore Katie Criswell led the UNA offense with 15 combined points, with Howard scoring 10 of UNA's 19 points in the period. Combined with a solid 47.1 team-shooting percentage, North Alabama cut the Lipscomb lead to two with the Bisons leading 30-28 at halftime.
The two teams continued to battle in the second half, but North Alabama outscored Lipscomb for the second-straight quarter to cut the deficit to one. The Lions shot 66.7 percent from the floor in the quarter. UNA also forced the Bisons to their lowest shooting percentage of any quarter in the game, holding Lipscomb to 33.3 percent.
The back-and-forth affair headed into the final quarter with the Bisons holding a 46-45 advantage over North Alabama. Despite a second-straight quarter of shooting 66.7 percent, the Lions remained in a tight contest against the visitors from Lipscomb.
The Lions trailed by as many as five in the period but were able to tie the game at 58-58 off senior Charity Gallegos's and-one layup with 15 seconds remaining. A missed free-throw gave the Bisons the ball with time running down, and with four seconds remaining, Heard secured the late Bisons lead with an and-one layup and made free throw.
North Alabama had a chance to tie the game, but sophomore Chloe Siegel's three-point attempt was blocked by Lipscomb's Bella Vinson as time expired.
Three Lions scored in double figures, led by 14 points each from Howard and Gallegos. Sophomore Chloe Siegel rounded out UNA's scoring leaders, securing 13 points for a season-high performance. Howard's 14 points also marked a new season high for the forward.
Graduate Sara Wohlgemuth and Klinge tied for the team-high in rebounds with seven, while Howard finished with five assists to lead North Alabama. Howard, Criswell and Klinge also registered one steal on the night.
The Lions home slate continues Saturday with North Alabama set to face the FGCU Eagles at 6 p.m. in CB&S Bank Arena.
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
