CHARLOTTE (February 26, 2025) – The University of North Alabama women's basketball team preps for the final week of the regular season with away and home matchups versus the Queens Royals and Central Arkansas Sugar Bears this week.
With a berth in the Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament already clinched, North Alabama readies for the postseason in the second season matchups against the Royals and Sugar Bears. Falling in hard-fought battles last time out against Lipscomb and FGCU, the Lions hope to get back in the win column and gain momentum toward a run in the postseason.
UNA also gets a second matchup at Central Arkansas, who could be a potential opponent in the conference tournament next month. The Lions close their road schedule against Queens, looking to secure their final road contest victory of the regular season.
The Lions face the Royals on Thursday, Feb. 27 in Curry Arena, while hosting the Sugar Bears in CB&S Bank Arena on Saturday, March 1. Both games are slated to tipoff at 6 p.m. CT.
Saturday's game against Central Arkansas will serve as Senior Night for the women's basketball program. Graduate student Sara Wohlgemuth and senior Charity Gallegos will be honored prior to the game, with the program also honoring long-time student manager, Candice Buford.
Both contests will be streamed on ESPN+, with "Voice of the Lions" Benjamin Ray providing commentary on WLX Radio against Queens.
Against the Sugar Bears, Ray and Matt Daniels are on the call for ESPN+ with Chase Glover as the sideline reporter. The game will also air on WLX Radio with Bryan Neece on commentary. Fans can listen on 98.3 or 103.5 FM in the Shoals or worldwide on the WLX App or website. The "Countdown to Tipoff" radio show begins at 5:40 p.m. for both games.
Due to ongoing construction, the basketball parking plan will be revised for the 2024-25 season. Lots A and B will be in the parking lot directly below Flowers Hall. Lot A pass holders will have coned off spots near the staircase. Shuttles will be available to take fans up to the field house lot for entry into CB&S Bank Arena.
Lot C parking will be in the parking lot below the Mitchell Burford Science and Technology Building. Residential Students will have access into Lot C with their hang tags. The public can also park in this lot for $12. Parking at the Bill Jones athletic complex will be unavailable. However, this lot is available as a drop off area near the arena.
GAME 1 INFO
Game: North Alabama at Queens
Date: Thursday, February 27
Time: 6 p.m. CT
Location: Charlotte, N.C.
Venue: Curry Arena
Watch: ESPN+
Listen: WLX 98.3 / 103.5 FM ("Voice of the Lions" Benjamin Ray)
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
Social Media: @UNAwbb
GAME 2 INFO
Game: North Alabama vs. Central Arkansas
Date: Saturday, March 1
Time: 6 p.m. CT
Location: Florence, Ala.
Venue: CB&S Bank Arena (Flowers Hall)
Promotions: Senior Night
Watch: ESPN+ ("Voice of the Lions" Benjamin Ray, Matt Daniels and Chase Glover)
Listen: WLX 98.3 / 103.5 FM (Bryan Neece)
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
Social Media: @UNAwbb
NOTES
LAST TIME OUT: North Alabama had a tough home slate in the last week of action, hosting the Lipscomb Bisons and the ASUN-leading FGCU Eagles in CB&S Bank Arena. North Alabama held its own against the Bisons, battling Lipscomb until a go-ahead Bisons' layup won it in a 61-58 result. UNA threatened the ASUN unbeaten Eagles until the late moments of the game, falling in a 60-50 contest.
SCOUTING THE LIONS: Despite the results against Lipscomb and FGCU, North Alabama led in multiple statistical categories against two of the top three ASUN teams. The Lions combined to lead in both field-goal percentage (46.9 percent to 40.2 percent) and three-point shooting (37 percent to 27.5 percent) across the two games. UNA also had the advantage in total rebounds (63-61) and blocks (8-2).
SCOUTING QUEENS: The Royals preps for their final regular season week, opening against the Lions at home. Queens is 9-18 overall while 3-13 in ASUN play. The Royals snapped a four-game skid in their last outing, defeating the Stetson Hatters, 75-64, in a home win.
SERIES HISTORY: North Alabama and Queens play in the fourth all-time meeting, as UNA leads the series, 3-0. The Lions took the first matchup this season in an 87-62 home victory on Jan. 30.
SCOUTING CENTRAL ARKANSAS: Central Arkansas heads to Florence for the return trip and its regular-season finale before the postseason. The Sugar Bears are 20-7 on the season and 14-2 in the ASUN, clinching a berth in the 2025 ASUN Tournament. Central Arkansas went 1-1 in the last week of action, opening with a 95-71 defeat to ASUN leaders FGCU before rebounding with a 72-62 home win against West Georgia. The loss to the Eagles marked only the second of the season in conference play, but Sugar Bears have won 13 of their last 14 games.
SERIES HISTORY: Central Arkansas lead the series, 10-4, with the Sugar Bears defeating North Alabama 73-52 earlier this season. UNA still looks for its first win over Central Arkansas since February 21, 2023.
BOUND FOR REBOUNDS: The Lions are second in the Atlantic Sun Conference in total rebounds, averaging 38.9 per game. North Alabama is second in defensive rebounds (27.4 per game) and third in rebounding margin (+3.8). UNA's effort on the glass defensively ranks within the top 50 teams nationally, ranking 49th in defensive rebounds. India Howard (7.2 per game), Jazzy Klinge (6.3) and Alyssa Clutter (5.3) all rank in the top 25 in ASUN rebounding.
LEADERBOARD LIONS: North Alabama is among the top ASUN teams in three-point field-goal percentage and blocked shots. UNA ranks second in three-point percentage (34.2 percent) while third in blocked shots, averaging 3.07 per game.
THE SECOND UNIT: The Lions enter the week as a top 50 team nationally in scoring from the second unit. North Alabama is ranked first in the conference with 23.2 bench points per game, also ranking 50th in the NCAA.
THE BLOCK LIST: Two Lions rank among the top shot blockers in India Howard and Jazzy Klinge. Howard (1.5 per game) is third in the league, with Klinge (0.5) tied for 20th.
DOUBLE TROUBLE: North Alabama has had two players finish with double-doubles on the season in Howard and Clutter. Howard has four on the season, recently adding two more against Stetson and North Florida. The junior averaged 10 points and 14 rebounds in the two games against the Hatters and Ospreys. Clutter has two on the season with a 14-point, 11-rebound outing at Arkansas-Pine Bluff and 17 points and 17 rebounds at Bellarmine.
CHARITY'S CASE: Charity Gallegos leads North Alabama in scoring, averaging 13.8 points per game and tied for eighth in the ASUN. Gallegos has also been the primary playmaker for the Lions, averaging the fourth-most assists in the ASUN with 3.9 per game. She was named the ASUN Conference's Player and Newcomer of the Week on Dec. 30, 2024 after a 25-7-7 stat line against Bethel. Gallegos earned her 1,500th career point in the Lions' home win versus Queens on Jan. 30.
HOWARD HOLDS IT DOWN: Junior India Howard has had a knack for blocking shots, enforcing her defensive presence with 39 blocks in 26 games. She's currently third in the ASUN in the category with 1.5 blocks per game. Howard is also inside the top 10 in rebounds in the conference, ranking eighth with 7.2 per game. The junior tied a career high last time out against FGCU, registering six blocks against the Eagles.
SUPER CAM: Cameron Jones is having a career year in her third season, with the Broadview Heights, Ohio native averaging a career-high 7.2 points per game and 3.7 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.
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
