JACKSONVILLE, Ala. (November 9, 2026) – First-year head coach Anna Nimz led the University of North Alabama women's basketball team to its first win of the season and her first as UNA's head coach with a 66-63 victory at Jacksonville State on Monday in Jacksonville, Ala.
The Lions (1-2) dominated the rebounding battle in the win, 44-24. Junior captain Amy Kurkowski found her footing in the second half, as she finished with 15 points, six rebounds and three assists — a second consecutive game with a career-high in points for the junior transfer.
North Alabama lost the rebound battle to Mississippi State by one and won the rebounding battle in Oxford against No. 19 Ole Miss by seven last week. On Monday, North Alabama had 14 offensive rebounds at the half, as many as JSU had total for the for first two periods.
Jacksonville State (2-1) tried to fight back late but could not find much scoring outside of Kamry Corporan (24) and Cam Ward (21). Only one other Gamecock found their way into double digit scoring in Emily Monson; only five Gamecocks scored in Jacksonville tonight.
UNA held JSU to its lowest scoring total of the season at 63; JSU entered the game averaging 76 points between the first two games of the season.
Nimz, after two hard fought battles against SEC opponents and leading the No. 19 team in the nation at halftime, finds her first win at North Alabama.
The first-year head coach put her run-and-gun offense on display with a fast paced, efficient scoring team as nine of 13 Lions scored tonight. Kurkowski (15), Brynn Lusby (11) and Greta Ramon (10) led the way for the group tonight.
The Lions set single game season highs in points (66), field goals made (24), field goal attempts (55), three-pointers made (6), free throws made (12), assists (17) and blocks (4).
North Alabama's 17 assists were the most in a single game this season, surpassing the 16 set at No. 19 Ole Miss last Thursday. Ramon led the way with five, a third straight game as the assist leader.
The 44 rebounds tied the single game season-high set in the season opener in Starkville, Marckalia Celestine (9), Venla Ulander (8) and Kurkowski (7) had the game-highs for the night cap.
Freshman Olivia Tredrea scored the first points of her career and finished with eight total. Celestine had six points with four from the charity stripe to earn her first points in the purple & white.
This is the second consecutive season with a win over Jacksonville State after defeating the Gamecocks in CB&S Bank Arena a season ago, 66-54. North Alabama had not beaten Jacksonville State in consecutive games since the 1993-94 season.
HOW IT HAPPENED
FIRST QUARTER - UNA 16, JSU 11
Venla Ulander kept the Lions afloat with six points on 3-of-4 shooting before the rest of the Lions got going. The 16 points in the first quarter were the most scored in a single period of play this season. Ulander had seven of her eight rebounds, with five offensive rebounds in this period alone.
SECOND QUARTER - UNA 32, JSU 25
Lions had an array of scorers with seven different Lions finding at least one bucket. The Gamecocks tallied 14 points to cut the lead, but a late scramble drill from Ramon and Emma D'Este led to a late bucket by Tredrea to widen the gap to seven at the half.
THIRD QUARTER - UNA 56, JSU 42
North Alabama cruised in the third quarter with a 24-point showing. Kurkowski lit up as she shot 4-for-4 with 11 points in the period, 3-for-3 from long-range. The Lions shot 4-of-5 from three and 61 percent from the floor to take the 14-point lead,
FOURTH QUARTER - UNA 66, JSU 63
Jacksonville State mounted a comeback that winded down to the final seconds. Ward had 10 points on 4-of-5 shooting while Corporan scored eight as four came from the free throw-line. The Lions held on as only one other Gamecock scored in the final quarter of play. Lusby led the final 10 minutes to help push the Lions over the top for the first win of the season.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
- This was the second consecutive game leading at the half, as UNA led 27-25 over No. 19 Ole Miss.
- The Lions had 14 offensive boards at halftime and 17 for the entire game.
- This is the second consecutive game winning the rebounding battle and second game with 44 rebounds this season.
- Celestine led the team with nine rebounds out of her reserve role.
- Kurkowski went 4-for-4 in the third quarter with 11 points.
- Tredrea earned her first career points and ended with eight on the night with 3-of-5 shooting.
- Three players in double-digit scoring — Kurkowski (15), Lusby (11), and Ramon (10).
- Lions had a season high 17-assists and Ramon led for the third straight game with five.
- Lions had 16 second chance points and 15 points off JSU turnovers.
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North Alabama led for 35:59 of the game and trailed for only 53 seconds.
- UNA had 28 points in the paint and 27 points from the bench unit.
COMING UP NEXT
North Alabama returns home for the first time this season to play Fisk on Friday, Nov. 13 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.
