LOUISVILLE, Ky. (February 17, 2026) – The University of North Alabama women's basketball team has its final road contest Wednesday, Feb. 18 at Bellarmine in Louisville, Ky. Tipoff is set for 4 p.m. CT.
The Lions will look to sweep the season series in action at Knights Hall. After Bellarmine, the Lions will close the regular season with three home matchups — Feb. 21 vs. Lipscomb, Feb. 25 vs. Central Arkansas and Feb. 28 vs. West Georgia.
Tickets are available for purchase through Bellarmine's ticket office, and the game will be streamed on ESPN+. Live stats will be provided by SIDEARM.
Full results and a recap will be posted on RoarLions.com following the action, but fans can also follow along in real time on the UNA Women's Basketball social media pages.
GAME INFO
Game: North Alabama at Bellarmine
Date: Wednesday, February 18
Time: 4 p.m. CT
Location: Louisville, Ky.
Venue: Knights Hall
Watch: ESPN+
Live Stats: SIDEARM
Tickets: Click Here
Social Media: @UNAwbb
NOTES
LAST TIME OUT: North Alabama dropped a tough 73-56 road battle on Feb. 14 against EKU in Richmond, Ky. The Lions lost for just the third time in their last 11 games in the matchup against EKU, who leads the ASUN with a 22-5 overall record and 13-1 record in league play.
SCOUTING UNA: North Alabama goes for its sixth road win Wednesday, which would tie the most since the 2019-20 season. UNA has gone 7-3 in the past 10 contests, including four-straight victories from Jan. 10-22 (Bellarmine, North Florida, Jacksonville and Queens) and three-straight from Jan. 31 - Feb. 7 (FGCU, Austin Peay and at Queens). Alvarado (17.2 points per game), Ceppellotti (10.1 PPG), junior Katie Criswell (9.8 PPG), senior India Howard (9.0 PPG) and freshman Gabby Jackson (8.3 PPG) have helped lead UNA during that span, along with contributions from senior Jazzy Klinge (6.1 PPG and 5.7 RPG).
SCOUTING BELLARMINE: The Knights are 2-25 with an 0-14 ASUN record. Bellarmine is led by Kayce Hyman, leading the team at 9.6 points per game on the season. Hyman averages 13 PPG in conference-only play – good for 13th in the ASUN. Ava Smith is second on the team with 9.4 PPG. She is tied for seventh in the ASUN in three-pointers made per game (1.9) and tied for 24th in assists per game (1.9).
SERIES HISTORY: North Alabama and Bellarmine matchup for the 15th time in the series history. The Lions lead the series history, 12-2, with UNA claiming the last eight meetings. UNA defeated the Knights in the first meeting of the season from CB&S Bank Arena, 67-52, on Jan. 10.
RIGHT UP HER ALLEY: Alvarado sports a team-leading 13.3 points per game. She is also UNA's leader in assists (81), three-pointers made (47) and steals (38). Alvarado is tied for sixth in the ASUN in three-pointers made per game (1.9 per game), eighth in assists per game (3.3) and tied for 10th in scoring. Defensively, Alvarado is tied for 12th in steals per game (1.5). She won her first ASUN accolades on Feb. 2, taking home both the conference's Player and Newcomer of the Week honor.
SOFIA SHINES: Ceppellotti is second on the team with 10.7 points and 5.4 rebounds per game. The sophomore is tied for 15th in rebounding, tied for 19th in three-pointers made per game (1.3) and 21st in scoring in the ASUN.
GABBY GETS IT!: Jackson is the team leader in total rebounds with 155 for a 6.2 average. She has had at least seven rebounds in 11 games this season with the Kansas City, Mo. native 11th in the ASUN in rebounds per game. She earned back-to-back ASUN Freshman of the Week honors on Jan. 12 and Jan. 20.
BUKKY BUCKETS: Graduate Bukky Akinsola has made her mark in the playmaking and defense category. She's second on the team in total assists (40) and has 19 steals on the season.
All INDIA, ALL THE TIME: Howard continues to produce on both ends of the floor with 7.1 points per game averages and 4.4 rebounds. She is the team's blocks leader with 24 on the season and is second in field-goal percentage at 56.9 percent. Howard totaled her 100th career block against South Alabama on Dec. 14, 2025, and played in her 100th career collegiate game on Feb. 9 at Central Arkansas.
COUNTING ON CRISWELL: Criswell has been finding ways to produce on both ends as well. She's been the Lions' on-ball defensive specialist and has accumulated double-digits in both steals (20) and blocks (14). The Lawrence County, Tenn. native scored a career-high 22 points on 56.3 percent against West Georgia on Feb. 11. Criswell additionally hit four three-pointers against the Wolves – also marking a career high.
AMONG THE RANKS: The Lions are in the top 100 nationally in three categories as of Feb. 16. North Alabama ranks nationally per game in opponent three-point percentage (58th/28.2), defensive rebounds per game (79th/26.9) and opponent field-goal percentage (86th/38.2 percent).
NOTHING EASY: North Alabama gets it done on the defensive end with three players ranked on the ASUN's blocked shots leaderboard. Howard ranks seventh at one per game while Criswell ranks tied for 17th at 0.6. Ceppellotti rounds out tied for 23rd with 0.5 per game.
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
