JONESBORO, Ark. (December 14, 2023) – North Alabama Women's Basketball and Arkansas State played a tightly-contested game into overtime, but the Red Wolves were able to pull away in the extra period to take a 82-78 thriller Thursday night in Jonesboro, Ark.

The Lions trailed the entirety of the first half but used a big third quarter to overcome the deficit to take their first lead of the game at the 7:27 mark in the third quarter. Arkansas State would then close the gap in the fourth quarter, and both teams would miss chances at a go-ahead score at the end of the fourth quarter to take the contest into overtime, UNA's first of the season. Both teams battled in the extra period, but the Red Wolves would come away with the victory in a wild contest on the road for the Lions

North Alabama drops to 3-7 on the season, while Arkansas State moves to a 5-3 record.

Senior guard Alexis Callins paced the Lions in scoring with 25 points on 8-17 shooting while hitting a career-high six threes in the contest.

Two more Lions finished in double figures, with freshman guard Veronaye Charlton adding 19 points on 6-9 shooting and sophomore guard Alyssa Clutter rounding out the double-digit scorers with 15 points.

Sophomore forward India Howard finished with 10 rebounds to mark the first 10-rebound performance by a Lion this season, and senior guard Sara Wohlgemuth played the entire game for the second-consecutive game, also contributing seven assist and five rebounds.

HOW IT HAPPENED

FIRST QUARTER: The battle in Jonesboro began in fitting UNA fashion, with Alexis Callins hitting a three for the first points of the game. A Red Wolves old-fashioned three-point play ensued on the next possession followed by four more points from ASU, but Alyssa Clutter welcomed herself to the game with a steal and breakaway score. Both teams traded scores up to the 5:31 mark when Arkansas State went on a 6-0 run before the media timeout. Leading 18-10, the Red Wolves continue to score with a 4-0 run out of the break, but Veronaye Charlton's and-one layup halted the scoring run for ASU and ignited a 5-0 run by UNA. Both teams traded scores after the run, but Arkansas State's 6-0 run to end the quarter took things to the second period - the Red Wolves up 30-17.
 

SECOND QUARTER: A defensive battle ensued to start the second quarter, with only one score from the Red Wolves in first two and a half minutes of action. Charlton got the Lions on the board with four free throws and followed with a layup with under six minutes to go in the period. Arkansas State would answer with five-straight points to lead into the media timeout. After the break, both teams traded two points apiece with the Lions' scoring from a layup and the Red Wolves hitting two free throws on the ensuing possessions. North Alabama would then catch fire from the floor, ending the quarter on a 9-0 run thanks to six points from Charlton and a three from freshman guard Chloe Siegel. UNA would close the early 13-point gap to five with Arkansas State still up at halftime, 39-34.

THIRD QUARTER: A quick start for both teams saw North Alabama and Arkansas State exchange two respective scores to open the third quarter. The Lions would continue their opening quarter scoring spree with a 6-0 run to take their first lead of the game, highlighted by four points from Clutter. The Red Wolves scored on their next possession with two free throws, but, again, Clutter would find the bottom of the net with her layup with 6:13 to go. UNA would go into the media timeout outscoring Arkansas State 14-8 and leading 48-47. Callins continued the red-hot scoring with an ensuing three that would be matched by the Red Wolves with three free throws. It was all UNA for the rest of the period as North Alabama outscored the Arkansas State 10-2 to take to a 61-52 lead into the final quarter. The Lions' offense exploded in the quarter, outscoring the Red Wolves 27-13 on 64.3 percent shooting and shooting 60 percent from deep.

FOURTH QUARTER: Down heading into the fourth, Arkansas State started quickly out the gates with a 5-0 run. In need of a score to halt the momentum of the Red Wolves, Sara Wohlgemuth hit a key three-pointer to get the Lions on the board and end the run of the home team. Arkansas State continued to pile on the points in the comeback attempt, but Callins and graduate forward Allie Craig Cruce answered with two points apiece to maintain the UNA lead up 68-61 into the media timeout. The final four minutes of play was dominated by the hosts, going on a 9-2 run that saw the UNA lead disappear to tie the game. With things tied at 70, both teams had a chance to take the lead but were unable to hit the game-winning score to take the game into overtime – UNA's first of the season.

OVERTIME: Overtime in Jonesboro began with the Red Wolves striking first, opening the period with a 5-0 run before Cruce hit two free throws to get things started for the Lions. Arkansas State would draw a foul and hit two free throws the next possession after a offensive rebound, but Cruce's number was called again with a big three on the next possession. The score 77-75 and overtime coming down to the wire, a clutch three-pointer on the ensuing Arkansas State possession pushed the lead back up to five. The Lions down but not out, Wohlgemuth would hit her second three of the night to put the game back at one possession with UNA down 81-78. UNA missed on three three-point attempts in the final 20 seconds as Arkansas State held on to take the competitive battle in Jonesboro, 82-78.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

·       10 – North Alabama rode the strength of their three-point shooting against the Red Wolves, knocking down ten threes in the game. The 10 threes marked the fifth time that UNA has hit the double-digit threshold in a game and ninth time the Lions won the three-point battle against an opponent this season. It also marks the eighth-straight game North Alabama has shot and converted more threes than the opposition.

·       12 – Both teams finished with an equal 37 rebounds, but UNA created extra scoring opportunities with 12 offensive rebounds – three more than the nine Arkansas State finished with. Sophomore forward India Howard led the way with three to go with her 10 rebounds in the game, which also helped lead the Lions in scoring two more second chance points than the Red Wolves (10-8)

·       27 – The Lions used a big third quarter to work their way back into the game, scoring 27 points in the period to start the second in a big way. UNA shot 64.3 percent from the field with Callins and Clutter leading the way in scoring in the quarter with 15 and nine points, respectively. UNA trailed the entirety of the first half prior to gaining their first lead with 7:27 left in the third.
 

·       82% – UNA trailed in free throw attempts compared to the Arkansas State (36 – 17), but they converted them when it mattered by hitting 14 of their 17 from the charity stripe. North Alabama continues to be the standard in free-throw shooting in the Atlantic Sun Conference, leading the way with a team 77.5 percent free-throw mark.
 

·       45 – It was another full shift put in for Sara Wohlgemuth, who after playing the full game against Chattanooga, replicated the feat against the Red Wolves with 45 minutes played. The senior from Madison, Conn. contributed with six points, all from the three-point line, and tallied seven assists and five rebounds in the performance.

COMING UP NEXT

Women's Basketball will have their final game on the road before the Christmas break on Tuesday, Dec. 19, when they travel to Birmingham to take on the Samford Bulldogs, tipping off at 1 p.m.

Fans are also encouraged to mark their calendars for Thursday, Dec. 21 at 6 p.m. as the Lions host Tennessee Tech inside CB&S Bank Arena. Tickets are available at this link.

For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.