FLORENCE, Ala. (February 27, 2026) – March came early for North Alabama Women's Basketball, as the Lions played in an instant classic Friday night and took a 118-107 victory over West Georgia on senior night inside CB&S Bank Arena.
North Alabama (16-13, 11-7 ASUN) engaged a high-scoring battle for the ages right from the opening tip. The matchup was a true back-and-forth affair with 38 lead changes, marking a new high for the season. The game needed four overtimes to determine a winner while battling for sixth seed in next week's Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament.
Both teams fought valiantly for the four extra periods, but the Lions exploded in the fourth overtime and outscored West Georgia (17-12, 10-8 ASUN) by a 13-2 margin to cap the regular season in dramatic fashion.
The game had 38 lead changes — more than double any UNA or UWG game this season. Both teams experienced no more than 16 lead changes in any game this season prior to tonight. The score was also tied 22 times.
This drew national attention from the media, including an appearance on ESPN SportsCenter's "Must SC" segment.
The win secured the season sweep over West Georgia and the sixth seed in the conference tournament. The Lions will face 11-seed Queens in the first round on Tuesday, March 3 at 6:30 p.m. CT inside UNF Arena.
The victory also set a record for the longest game in program history. According to available records, UNA has been to double overtime four times in program history, but never into a third or fourth overtime. The Lions also set program records for most combined points with 225 total and most field goal attempts with 97.
Playing on Senior Night unlocked new gears for Alexsandra Alvarado, Jazzy Klinge and India Howard.
Alvarado set a new Division-I program record with 39 points on 50 percent shooting from the field. Klinge had a career night with 19 points and 15 rebounds for the double-double. Howard joined her with a 16-point, 10 rebound performance.
Three other Lions finished in double figures in scoring in sophomore Sofia Ceppellotti (18 points), junior Katie Criswell (10) and freshman Gabby Jackson (10).
Criswell also made history in tonight's marathon, playing all 60 minutes. This shatters the UNA all-time record and the ASUN all-time record for most minutes in a game. It also ranks fifth in NCAA history. The only four players with more are Memphis standout Mooriah Rowser with 64 minutes against Temple in a 5OT win in 2016,Shaleyse Smallwood, who played 63 minutes for Northeastern in a 5OT loss to Drexel in 2007, Feyonda Fitzgerald, who played 62 minutes for Temple in the 5OT loss against Memphis in 2016 and Andrea Peterson, who led Drexel with 61 minutes in that 2007 win over Northeastern.
Both teams shot over 40 percent and combined for 193 field goal attempts — 97 for UNA and 96 for UWG. UNA also did itself tremendous favors from the line by going 25-28 for a whopping 89.3 percent.
The first quarter set the tone in tremendous fashion, as UNA led 32-31 at the break. This was UNA's highest scoring quarter of the season. The scoring did not keep pace with the first quarter for the next three, but the ebb and flow remained the same as the lead continued to flip constantly.
West Georgia tied the game in the final minute of regulation and had an opportunity to win it at the buzzer, but Criswell came up with a clutch block on the final shot to force overtime. She also hit a go-ahead three just a few minutes prior, helping set the table for an electric finish.
UWG jumped out to a four-point lead in the first overtime, but UNA eventually took the lead on a go-ahead jumper from Ceppellotti. However, Jasmine Jones hit the game-tying three to knot it back up with 11 seconds to go.
Tied 89-89, the teams headed to OT number two. UWG again struck first with a triple, but Criswell hit one at the other end. West Georgia made two more shots and UNA answered both to force a third overtime. UWG got a look near the basket at the buzzer and missed.
UNA had the scout in the third overtime, as Alvarado took the opening tip but missed the layup. The Wolves were able to counter at the other end with a fastbreak score and later mounted a six-point lead at 102-96. Alvarado went on a personal 6-0 run to tie the game with 1:36 left. She then made her presence felt again in the final seconds, hitting a game-tying three-pointer with seven on the clock to tie it at 105-105. Another miss in the paint for UWG sent a fourth OT.
UNA had the same tipoff strategy in the fourth frame, as Alvarado jumped the tip and broke for the basket. This time, she made the layup, and UNA had all the momentum. Alvarado made the next five points for UNA to provide cushion at 112-107, then she scored four more points in the latter part of overtime. The UNA defense also held UWG scoreless for over four minutes in the final overtime.
To view information for the 2026 ASUN Championship, click here.
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
