LOUISVILLE, Ky. (February 18, 2026) – The University of North Alabama women's basketball team secured a massive victory in its final road game of the regular season Wednesday, taking an 87-54 rout over Bellarmine in Louisville, Ky.
The Lions (14-12, 9-6 ASUN) secured their final regular-season road game in style, igniting to a 33-point victory over the Knights. The wire-to-wire win saw UNA land its season-high in points and largest margin of victory in conference play and on the road to complete the season sweep over Bellarmine (2-25, 0-15 ASUN).
Offensively, North Alabama had one of its most efficient shooting nights. UNA shot 52.9 percent from the field – the second-highest percentage of the season. The Lions also had a season-high in both field goals made (36) and team assists (27) while securing their second highest totals in rebounds (48) and blocked shots (7) this season.
Five Lions scored in double figures, including a career high from sophomore Sofia Ceppellotti. She finished with a team-high 21 points to go with five rebounds. Junior Katie Criswell (16 points), senior India Howard (14), freshman Gabby Jackson (13) and senior Alexsandra Alvarado (10) additionally secured double figures in the scoring department.
Alvarado was the rebounding leader with 10 against the Knights – earning her first career double-double. Jackson had a near double-double with nine rebounds, and Howard was third on the team with seven. Criswell and senior Jazzy Klinge both registered career highs with a team-leading six assists.
The defensive side saw Jackson, Alvarado and freshman Greta Ramon total two steals to lead the team. Klinge led the Lions in blocks with two on the afternoon.
HOW IT HAPPENED
FIRST QUARTER: UNA 20, BU 14
The efficient outing began right from the opening quarter, with 52.6 percent shooting giving way to a six-point advantage for North Alabama. All 20 points came from inside the arc with Howard, Ceppellotti, Alvarado, Criswell and Jackson getting on the score sheet early. UNA's defense also made it tough by holding the Knights to 35.3 percent shooting (6-17). North Alabama built a lead as large as 11 points (18-7) before a solid Bellarmine finish in the period sent the game into the second.
SECOND QUARTER: UNA 45, BU 25
The Lions' shooting efficiency increased as a 70 percent field-goal percentage and 66.7 three-point percentage led to UNA's highest scoring quarter. Ceppellotti took the reigns as the team's leading scorer with 10 points in the period. North Alabama began the quarter on an 11-0 run before building a 22-point advantage after a 22-6 run. The explosive offense along with stout defense sent the Lions into halftime with the big lead; UNA limited Bellarmine to 35.3 percent shooting in the quarter.
THIRD QUARTER: UNA 63, BU 35
UNA's defense had its best quarter in the third, holding the Knights to only two-made shots on 15.4 percent shooting. Six Lions shared the workload on offense en route to North Alabama outscoring Bellarmine, 18-10, in the period. UNA held onto its 20-point lead throughout the period and increased its largest lead to 28 points by the quarters' end.
FOURTH QUARTER: UNA 87, BU 54
North Alabama finished strong in the fourth to see the matchup out against the Knights. The Lions scored 24 points in the period — the second-most in a quarter throughout the contest. A Howard layup 10 seconds into the quarter push UNA's lead past 30 points as UNA continued to pile on points. UNA's lead further increased to its largest at 37 points by the 3:35 mark. Sixteen paint points and a team 55 percent shooting percentage also helped lock down the road win vs. the Knights.
COMING UP NEXT
The Lions begin a three-game home stand to close the regular season, beginning against Lipscomb on Saturday, Feb. 21 at 6 p.m. from CB&S Bank Arena.
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
