CHARLOTTE, N.C. (February 7, 2026) – The University of North Alabama women's basketball team continued its winning ways Saturday afternoon with a 71-55 victory over Queens in Charlotte, N.C.
North Alabama (12-10, 7-4 ASUN) capped the season sweep against the Royals with a solid performance on the road. The Lions won their third game in a row using an all-around effort offensively and defensively. UNA shot 50 percent from the field while holding Queens (8-15, 2-10 ASUN) to 33.9 percent en route to its seventh win in eight games.
The Lions had plenty of offensive contributions as four players finished in double digits.
Senior Alexsandra Alvarado continued her scoring tear with a game-high 23 points on 50 percent shooting (9-18). Senior India Howard provided huge minutes off the bench with 18 points on 70 percent shooting (7-10). Sophomore Sofia Ceppellotti contributed 12 points, and senior Jazzy Klinge provided 10 points on a perfect 3-3 from the field.
Klinge and Alvarado tied the game high with four assists, but Klinge was all alone with the team-leading eight rebounds. Four total Lions had five or more rebounds in Klinge, junior Katie Criswell (six), freshman Gabby Jackson (five) and Howard (five). Klinge was UNA's leader with two steals, while Criswell tallied a game-high two blocks.
HOW IT HAPPENED
FIRST QUARTER: UNA 17, QOC 14
The opening period went back-and-forth, but North Alabama opened with a narrow lead over Queens. An early 7-4 advantage for the Royals quickly turned in UNA's favor with a 7-0 run to make it 11-7. The Lions maintained its advantage to the end of the first quarter. Five Lions contributed scoring-wise with Ceppellotti setting the tone with five points. Klinge and Alvarado chipped in four points while Criswell and Howard tallied two points.
SECOND QUARTER: UNA 38, QOC 24
North Alabama's offense came alive with 21 quarter points on 66.7 percent shooting. A three-point ballgame after the first became a 14-point UNA lead thanks to Alvarado (nine points), Ceppellotti (five) and Klinge (five). The defense stole the show by holding the Royals to 28.6 percent shooting.
THIRD QUARTER: UNA 50, QOC 38
Queens would begin mounting its rally, but the Lions maintained its advantage after 30 minutes. The low-scoring quarter saw both defenses coming to play, with UNA's strong defense limiting the Royals to 31.3 percent.
FOURTH QUARTER: UNA 71, APSU 55
The opposite of the third, the high-scoring fourth quarter saw North Alabama's offense seal the road victory. UNA had its second 21-point scoring quarter on 61.5 percent shooting while the defense continued to shine by holding Queens to 36.8 percent shooting. The Royals turned up the pressure, but UNA's Howard made the fourth her time to shine. She had 12 points in the quarter, and she all but sealed the game at the 3:17 mark. Queens cut the deficit to 10 points and looked to continue rallying, but Howard's first-career UNA three-pointer with the shot clock expiring gave momentum firmly back to the Lions. North Alabama held strong the final three minutes to take the double-digit victory.
UP NEXT
The Lions continue its road trip Monday, Feb. 9 with a visit to Conway, Ark. to face Central Arkansas at 6:30 p.m.
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
