FLORENCE, Ala. (January 7, 2025) – The University of North Alabama women's basketball team continues Atlantic Sun Conference play in CB&S Bank Arena on Wednesday, welcoming the Austin Peay Governors for a 6 p.m. tip.
North Alabama is back in "The Bank" following a road win at Bellarmine and a home win over Jacksonville last weekend, leading to UNA's first 2-0 conference start since the 2020-21 season.
The game will be streamed on ESPN+ with "Voice of the Lions" Benjamin Ray and Matt Daniels on the call and Chase Glover reporting from the sidelines. The game will also air on WLX Radio with Bryan Neece on commentary. Fans can listen on 98.3 or 103.5 FM in the Shoals or worldwide on the WLX App or website. The "Countdown to Tipoff" radio show begins at 5:40 p.m.
Due to ongoing construction, the basketball parking plan will be revised for the 2024-25 season. 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. Parking at the Bill Jones athletic complex will be unavailable. However, this lot is available as a drop off area near the arena.
GAME INFO
Game: North Alabama vs. Austin Peay
Date: Wednesday, January 8
Time: 6 p.m. CT
Location: Florence, Ala.
Venue: CB&S Bank Arena at Flowers Hall
Watch: ESPN+ ("Voice of the Lions" Benjamin Ray, Matt Daniels and Chase Glover)
Listen: WLX 98.3 / 103.5 FM (Bryan Neece)
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
Social Media: @UNAwbb
NOTES
LAST TIME OUT: North Alabama went 2-0 in its first conference action against Bellarmine and Jacksonville last week. Senior Charity Gallegos hit a game-winning layup to clinch the 90-89 overtime road bout against the Knights. In Saturday's conference home opener, the Lions used a second-quarter surge en route to a 73-57 home win versus the Dolphins.
SCOUTING THE LIONS: The Lions are off to a perfect start in ASUN play — marking the first 2-0 start in conference games since the 2020-21 season. In the first win at Bellarmine, Gallegos scored a career-high 32 points to overcome the Knights. Junior Alyssa Clutter had a career-high 17 rebounds with 17 points against Bellarmine, while juniors Emma Kate Tittle and Rhema Pegues contributed 14 points each. North Alabama's second quarter proved the difference against Jacksonville, taking the first ASUN contest in CB&S Bank Arena. With a win against the Governors, UNA would be 3-0 in conference for the first time since the 2019-20 season.
SCOUTING AUSTIN PEAY: The Governors make the trip to Florence with a 6-7 record while 1-1 in the ASUN. Austin Peay won its first conference matchup last time out, defeating North Florida on Jan. 4 by a 60-52 final. Entering the season, the Govs were picked fifth in the ASUN Preseason Coaches Poll and sixth in the Preseason Media Poll. Austin Peay's head coach is Brittany Young.
SERIES HISTORY: North Alabama and Austin Peay will play their eighth all-time meeting, with the Lions leading the series, 4-3. UNA swept both games last season – a 79-75 home win on Jan. 11 and a 59-58 road victory on Feb. 24. Junior India Howard clinched the road win with a buzzer-beating tip-in in the last meeting.
LEADERBOARD LIONS: In addition to rebounding, North Alabama is among the top three ASUN teams in team field-goal and three-point percentage, blocks and assists. The Lions are second in the ASUN with a 42.5 percent field-goal percentage, also ranking third in three-point shooting (34.3 percent). North Alabama averages 14.46 assists per game and 3.31 blocks per game – both ranking third in the ASUN.
CHARITY'S CASE: Charity Gallegos leads North Alabama in scoring, averaging the fifth-most points in the ASUN with 15.0 points per game. In conference games, she is the ASUN leader with 26.0 PPG in the first two outings. Gallegos has also been the primary playmaker for the Lions, averaging the fourth-most assists in the ASUN with four per game. She was named the ASUN Conference's Player and Newcomer of the Week on Dec. 30, 2024, after a 25-7-7 stat line against Bethel.
HOT START: The Lions are the top offensive team in the conference after one weekend, averaging a league-best 81.5 PPG. Individually, a handful of Lions rank first or second in some of the major conference only stats. This includes Gallegos in scoring (26.0 PPG) and Clutter in rebounding (12.0 RPG) to lead the league, as well as Pegues in shooting percentage (71.4), Tittle in three-pointers made (3.5 per game) and Howard in blocks (2.5 per game) to rank second.
BOUND FOR REBOUNDS: The Lions are first in the Atlantic Sun Conference in total rebounds, averaging 43.5 per game. North Alabama holds the top spot in rebounding margin (+9.2) and defensive rebounds (29.2 per game), while third in offensive rebounds (14.6 per game). UNA's India Howard (ninth/6.4 per game), Alyssa Clutter (13th/6.0), Jazzy Klinge (16th/5.7) and Cameron Jones (21st/5.4) all rank in the top 25 in the conference rebounding statistics. North Alabama's efforts on the glass are also among the top 20 teams nationally, ranking 13th in rebounds per game and 20th in defensive rebounds per game.
DOUBLE TROUBLE: North Alabama has had two players finish with double-doubles on the season in Alyssa Clutter and India Howard. Howard nabbed the first double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds against Cumberland. Clutter followed with a 14-point, 11-rebound outing at Arkansas-Pine Bluff, registering her second of the season with 17 points and 17 rebounds at Bellarmine. Howard recently had her second double-double versus Jacksonville – a 11-point, 14-rebound result against the Dolphins.
HOWARD HOLDS IT DOWN: India Howard has had a knack for blocking shots, enforcing her defensive presence with 19 blocks in 13 games. She's currently tied for fourth in the conference in the category with 1.5 blocks per game. Howard also is top 10 in rebounding with the junior ninth in the category (6.4 per game).
SUPER CAM: Cameron Jones is having a career year in her third season, with the Broadview Heights, Ohio native averaging a career-high 9.7 points per game. She ranks among the conference leaders in free-throw percentage and blocked shots, ranking seventh in the free throws at 76.3 percent and tied for eighth in blocks with 0.8 per game.
KATIE'S KEEN ON DEFENSE: Sophomore Katie Criswell has also provided rim protection from the guard position, ranking tied for 17th in the ASUN with six blocked shots over 12 games for 0.5 per game.
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
