FLORENCE, Ala. (February 24, 2026) – The University of North Alabama women's basketball team will host Central Arkansas and West Georgia in CB&S Bank Arena for the final home regular-season contests on Feb. 25 and 27 from Florence, Ala.
North Alabama opens its final week at home against Central Arkansas on Wednesday, Feb. 25 at 5:45 p.m. The game will serve as the first half of UNA Basketball doubleheader with the men's team facing Bellarmine at 7:45 p.m. Wednesday's contest will be the team's Purple Reign game, with all fans in attendance receiving a Purple Reign t-shirt. The night also serves as Academic Night to honor the academic achievements of UNA student-athletes.
The Lions close the regular season with Senior Night against West Georgia on Friday, Feb. 27 at 6 p.m. Prior to the game, UNA will honor six seniors — Bukky Akinsola, Alexsandra Alvarado, Jazzy Klinge, Alyssa Clutter, India Howard and Emma Kate Tittle. Student managers Ryland Giles and Autumn Vickers will also be honored prior to the contest.
Tickets are available for purchase through the North Alabama ticket office and on RoarLions.com.
Both games this week will be streamed on ESPN+ with "Voice of the Lions" Benjamin Ray on the call. Bryan Neece and Matt Daniels will serve as analysts with Chase Glover and Arielle Schafer providing sideline reporting. The games will also air on radio through Roar Lions Productions with AJ Good and Neece on commentary, respectively. The "Countdown to Tipoff" radio show begins at 5:25 p.m. vs. Central Arkansas and 5:40 p.m. against West Georgia.
Fans are encouraged to arrive early for both games, as parking is limited due to ongoing construction. As such, the lot near the Hal Self Athletic Annex will be unavailable. Violators will be towed if parked in the construction zone.
Lots A and B will be in the parking lot directly below Flowers Hall. Lot A pass holders will have coned off spots near the staircase. Shuttles will be available to take fans up to the field house lot for entry into CB&S Bank Arena.
Lot C parking will be in the parking lot below the Mitchell Burford Science and Technology Building. Residential Students will have access into Lot C with their hang tags. The public can also park in this lot for $12.
Limited handicap parking will be available in front of the CB&S Bank Arena ticket office.
Due to worship services, the College View Church of Christ parking lot will be unavailable for Wednesday's game. Fans are welcome to park at College View for sporting events except on Sundays and Wednesdays. Students, faculty and staff can park in the designated area Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
GAME 1 INFO
Game: North Alabama vs. Central Arkansas
Date: Wednesday, February 25
Time: 5:45 p.m.
Location: Florence, Ala.
Venue: CB&S Bank Arena at Flowers Hall
Promotion: Purple Reign Game/Academic Night Recognition
Watch: ESPN+ ("Voice of the Lions" Benjamin Ray, Bryan Neece and Chase Glover)
Radio: Roar Lions Productions (AJ Good)
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
Tickets: Click Here
Social Media: @UNAwbb
GAME 2 INFO
Game: North Alabama vs. West Georgia
Date: Friday, February 27
Time: 6 p.m.
Location: Florence, Ala.
Venue: CB&S Bank Arena at Flowers Hall
Game Sponsor: Renaissance Shoals
Promotion: Senior Night/The Birthday Fairy
Watch: ESPN+ ("Voice of the Lions" Benjamin Ray, Matt Daniels and Arielle Schafer)
Radio: Roar Lions Productions (Bryan Neece)
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
Tickets: Click Here
Social Media: @UNAwbb
NOTES
LAST TIME OUT: North Alabama began its final postseason push with a 68-63 triumph over Lipscomb on Feb. 21. The Lions kicked off their final home stand of the regular season with their first win over the Bisons since Feb. 14, 2022 in Nashville. Rebounding played a key role with a season-high performance 52 rebounds with 23 coming on the offensive glass, which helped create 18 important second-chance points en route to the home win.
PREPARING FOR THE POSTSEASON: North Alabama continues the hunt to secure a top-four seed in the ASUN Tournament. All 12 ASUN teams make the tournament, but only the top four teams will secure a first-round bye. UNA is tied for fifth place with a 10-6 ASUN record as of Feb. 23 – sharing the spot with West Georgia. The Lions own the tiebreaker over West Georgia after defeating the Wolves, 65-60, on Feb. 11. Stetson and Central Arkansas have 11-5 ASUN records and are tied for third place.
SCOUTING UNA: UNA sports a 7-3 record in its past 10 games as the 2026 ASUN Tournament approaches. The Lions have led in rebounding (391 to opponents' 338), assists (154-97) and blocks (26-24) during the span. North Alabama has had three players average double figures in Alvarado (14.6 points per game), sophomore Sofia Ceppellotti (11.9 PPG) and junior Katie Criswell (10.1 PPG). Freshman Gabby Jackson (9.0 PPG, 6.8 RPG), Howard (8.7 PPG, 5.6 RPG) and Klinge (6.0 PPG, 6.7 RPG) has also contributed on both ends of the floor. North Alabama looks to claim its 10th and 11th home win of the season, which would tie its highest home win total since the 2019-20 campaign.
SCOUTING CENTRAL ARKANSAS: The Sugar Bears prep for the midweek bout with an 18-10 record while 11-5 in conference play. Central Arkansas is currently on a seven-game winning streak after defeating West Georgia in a 73-59 victory on Feb. 21 in Carrollton, Ga. The Sugar Bears rank first in the ASUN in total defense (57.6 PPG), opponent field-goal percentage (35.5 percent), three-pointers made per game (8.6) and team rebounds (40.2). Shae Littleford continues to lead the Sugar Bears in scoring with 14.1 PPG – ranking tied for seventh in the conference. Cheyanne Kemp (13.1 PPG/T-11th) and Bree Stephens (10.8 PPG/T-21st) additionally rank in the top 25 of ASUN scoring.
SERIES HISTORY: The Lions and Sugar Bears prepare for the second meeting of the season and 17th in the all-time series. Central Arkansas leads the series, 11-5, and took the first meeting of the season with a 59-48 home win on Feb. 9. The last meeting in CB&S Bank Arena resulted in a 66-56 UNA win to cap the 2024-25 regular season on March 1, 2025.
SCOUTING WEST GEORGIA: The Wolves are 17-10 on the year and 10-6 in the ASUN. UWG has the third-best offense in the ASUN at 71.9 points per game, sporting an ASUN-best 33.3 percent three-point shooting percentage. They also rank second in three-pointers made per game (8.4). West Georgia has three players in the top 10 in scoring in the ASUN: Asia Donald (14.4 PPG/T-third), Sydne Tolbert (14.1 PPG/T-eighth) and Jasmine Jones (14 PPG/T-10th).
SERIES HISTORY: North Alabama and West Georgia face each other for the second time this season and 77th overall in the series. The Lions lead with a 41-35 series advantage.
AMONG THE RANKS: The Lions are in the top 100 nationally in four categories as of Feb. 23. North Alabama ranks nationally per game in opponent three-point percentage (45th/27.8), defensive rebounds per game (63rd/27.2), opponent field-goal percentage (78th/38 percent) and total rebounds per game (96th/38.63).
LIONS ON THE BOARDS: North Alabama ranks third in the ASUN in both team rebounds (38.6 per game) and rebounding margin (+2.0). Through 27 games, the Lions have led in rebounding in 14 contests. Six players have at least 75 rebounds with four totaling at least 120 rebounds (Jackson (176), Klinge (146), Howard (124) and Ceppellotti (122)).
DIME TIME: UNA is one of the best passing teams in conference, ranking third with 14.33 assists per game. Eight players have 20 or more assists on the season with six totaling 30 or more assists (Alvarado (88), Criswell (47), Jackson (41), Akinsola (40), Klinge (36) and freshman Greta Ramon (33)).
NOTHING EASY: North Alabama gets it done on the defensive end with three players ranked on the ASUN's blocked shots leaderboard. Howard ranks tied for eighth at 0.8 per game, and Criswell ranks tied for 17th at 0.6. Ceppellotti is tied for 22nd at 0.5.
RIGHT UP HER ALLEY: Alvarado sports a team-leading 13.1 points per game. She is also UNA's leader in assists (88), three-pointers made (50) and steals (40). Alvarado is tied for sixth in the ASUN in assists per game, tied for seventh in three-pointers made per game (1.9 per game) and tied for 11th in scoring. Defensively, Alvarado is tied for 14th 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 11.1 points and third with 5.3 rebounds per game. The sophomore is tied for 18th in rebounds per game and tied for 19th in three-pointers made per game (1.4). She additionally ranks tied for 16th in scoring in the ASUN.
GABBY GETS IT!: Jackson is the team leader in total rebounds with 176 for a 6.5 average. The freshman also leads the team with three double-doubles on the season. She has had at least seven rebounds in 13 games with the Kansas City, Mo. native tied for ninth 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: Akinsola has made her mark in the playmaking and defense category. She's totaled 40 assists with 19 steals on the season.
All INDIA, ALL THE TIME: Howard continues to produce on both ends of the floor with 7.3 points per game averages and 4.6 rebounds. She is the team's blocks leader with 25 on the season and is second in field-goal percentage at 58 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 (16). The Lawrence County, Tenn. native scored a career-high 22 points on 56.3 percent with a career-high four three-pointers against West Georgia on Feb. 11. She also set a career high with six assists at Bellarmine on Feb. 18.
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
