FLORENCE, Ala. (January 8, 2026) – The University of North Alabama women's basketball team narrowly dropped its first home Atlantic Sun Conference contest Thursday night in an 80-78 bout against EKU in CB&S Bank Arena.

The loss was the result, but UNA (5-9, 0-3 ASUN) played its most efficient offensive game of the season. North Alabama finished shooting 58.2 percent from the floor – its highest of any game this season. The Lions also tied their season-high in team three-point shooting percentage with 43.8 percent.

Four players finished in the double-figures for UNA. Freshman Gabby Jackson was the leader on offense with a career-high 21 points on 9-13 shooting from the field. Jackson had an all-around performance with the team-high in rebounds (7) and team and career-high in assists (6).

North Alabama and EKU (12-4, 3-0 ASUN) engaged in a thriller in Florence.

UNA began with a 26-22 first-quarter lead off the strength of 78.6 percent team shooting. Eight quick points from sophomore Sofia Ceppellotti fueled the hot start followed by six points from senior Jazzy Klinge and five from junior Katie Criswell.

The offense continued to pour on in the second, closing the first half with a 48-35 advantage. A 56.3 percent clip in the second frame led to the double-digit lead after the first 20 minutes.

EKU began to mount its comeback in the third, using an early run to close the gap. After a back-and-forth start, the Colonels closed a 53-38 UNA lead to 53-52 at the media timeout. The Lions responded by outscoring EKU, 10-4, to close out the third with a 63-56 lead.

Both teams shot the ball efficiently from the field in the final frame, but the game came down to the wire. The key moment in the period came in the Colonels' Joseana Vaz hitting a go-ahead midrange shot with 24 seconds left.

UNA had two chances to tie or win the game in response, including forcing a late jump ball for a Colonels turnover. In the Lions final possession, however, a late turnover sealed the tight contest with EKU running out the clock for the win.

Criswell had her best scoring game of the season with a season-high 17 points on 6-11 shooting. Ceppellotti chipped in 12 points, and Klinge rounded out the scoring leaders with 10 points.

Other team leaders from the contest included four steals from Ceppellotti and a block each for Criswell and senior India Howard.

The Lions are back in CB&S Bank Arena on Saturday, facing Bellarmine at 2 p.m.

For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.