FLORENCE, Ala. (November 13, 2026) – The University of North Alabama women's basketball team dominated Fisk in its home opener 92-48 on Friday night at CB&S Bank Arena in Florence.
The Lions (2-2) earned their second win of the week as five players scored in double figures. Emma D'Este led the charge with 20 points and eight rebounds, while Marckalia Celestine had a career-high in points (14) and rebounds (12).
Celestine and D'Este were both perfect through halftime, each 4-for-4 from the field.
North Alabama had 61 rebounds tonight, one shy of the all-time record set against La Verne on Nov. 13, 2022. Celestine (12) and Amy Kurkowski (10) were the two Lions to crash the boards to get to double-figures.
This is the third straight game that UNA won the rebounding battle, which started against No. 19 Ole Miss.
Fisk (0-3) was held to 48 points — a season-low even after playing UAB and Cumberland (TN). The Bulldogs had two players in double-digit figures with Ari Branch (20) and Jada Ward (15).
The defense was on full display again on Friday night. Fisk came into the game averaging over 71 points per game and nearly 40 percent from the field. The 26 rebounds were far from the norm as the Bulldogs averaged 44 rebounds a game heading into CB&S Bank Arena.
The Lions offense continued to shine tallied its most points of the season with 92 — the most in regulation since the 104 scored against La Verne in 2022. UNA scored 20-plus in each of the first three periods of play with a season-high second quarter of 28.
On top of the season high in points, UNA set single game highs in rebounds (61), assists (25), field goals made (38), field goal attempts (77), three point field goals made (7) and blocks (4).
North Alabama nearly shot 50 percent from the floor while holding Fisk to 28 percent on the night. The Lions dominated yet again in the rebounding battle, allowing only 26 rebounds to the Bulldogs.
Alongside 61 rebounds, North Alabama scored 60 points in the paint with 21 second chance points. The bench provided a substantial burst with 44 points, thanks to spark plugs such as Celestine (14) and Brynn Lusby (11).
D'Este earned the first 20-point game of the season while Celestine and Kurkowski notched the first title doubles of the season. Freshman Olivia Tredrea earned the first assists of her career and finished with two.
Other players set career-highs alongside Celestine, who did so in both points (14) and rebounds (12). Starting guard Phoebe Holmes had career-highs in points (5), rebounds (3) and assists (6), while Vera Gunaydin had her career-high two assists.
Kurkowski, who has set her career-high in points in back-to-back games, set career highs in rebounds (10) and assists (4).
Venla Ulander tied her career assists mark with three, while Zamyra Wallace tied her rebound mark of three at the Division I level.
The Lions finish this week undefeated after securing the first win of the season against Jacksonville State on Monday, 66-63. First-year head coach Anna Nimz and the Lions earned their second victory of the year tonight.
North Alabama played all available players tonight with each earning at least 10 minutes of action. Kurkowski and D'Este are the lone Lions to receive 25 minutes or more tonight with every other Lion between 10-19 minutes.
HOW IT HAPPENED
FIRST QUARTER - UNA 25, FISK 12
D'Este and Celestine opened with a combined 14 points on a perfect 100 percent from the floor. The Lions shot 50 percent from the floor on 10-of-20 shooting with seven players scoring in the opening frame. Kurkowski added five boards with four assists in her 10 minutes of action.
SECOND QUARTER - UNA 53, FISK 23
Ulander found her way in the second quarter, hitting three of her five shots to total eight points; Lusby joined in with six points with her 75 percent from the floor. Eight Lions scored in the second quarter to pull away from the Bulldogs and give the Lions their highest scoring quarter of the season with 28.
THIRD QUARTER - UNA 75, FISK 36
D'este returned with six points while Lusby continued strong, adding five points to her scorecard. Celestine led the way with five rebounds while Tredrea passed for her first two assists of the year to have a plus-minus of six in the period.
FOURTH QUARTER - UNA 92, FISK 48
The Lions had the pedal to the metal and cruised to the grand total of 92 points. Gunaydin had her first points of the season with two, while D'Este closed out strong with six points. North Alabama had 17 points in the final quarter to close out the second win of the season.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
- North Alabama had 61 rebounds, one shy of the all-time record set in 2022.
- Celestine and Kurkowski had the first double-doubles of the season.
- D'este had the first 20-point game of the season.
- North Alabama had a season high 25 assists.
- This is the third-straight game of winning the rebound battle.
- Lions are 2-0 this week after the win over Jacksonville State on Monday.
- UNA shot 49 percent from the floor and 29 percent from beyond the arc.
- North Alabama had the most points in a game since 2022 with 92.
COMING UP NEXT
North Alabama gets back on the road for its final SEC matchup against No. 8 Vanderbilt at Memorial Gymnasium in Nashville, Tenn. on Wednesday, Nov. 18 at 6:30 p.m.
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
