FLORENCE, Ala. (November 3, 2025) – The University of North Alabama women's basketball team opened the 2025-26 season with a 57-54 home win Monday night over UT Martin in CB&S Bank Arena.
The Lions (1-0) opened the new campaign on a high note and in dramatic fashion, securing the win in front of the home fans. Both teams battled in the first half with the five lead changes heading into halftime. UNA had a solid start with a 12-7 first-quarter lead before UT Martin (0-1) used its offense to carry a 25-22 second-quarter advantage.
North Alabama took off in the second half, using a 19-point third quarter to retake the lead at 41-36. The ultimate swing in momentum came late in the third quarter, as UNA took the lead back for good with a 14-0 run over a near-four-minute span. The Skyhawks soared back in the fourth quarter and pulled within a point in the final minute, but UNA scored and defended on the final possessions to seal a three-point win.
UNA won its third-straight game over UT Martin since moving to Division I, while also earning its 17th all-time victory in the series. The Lions also remain perfect at home against UT Martin, moving to 12-0 in home contests.
UNA has won five-straight season-openers since 2021.
Junior Cameron McNamara had a strong performance in her debut for UNA, leading the Lions with 13 points and 10 rebounds. She also chipped in four assists and three steals to also tally those team-highs.
Sophomore Sofia Ceppellotti and junior Katie Criswell also secured double-digit scoring totals with the two scoring 11 points each.
Ceppellotti shined in her first career start, additionally securing nine rebounds in a near double-double outing. She also led the team with a trio of three-pointers on 60 percent shooting. Criswell provided key points in the contest, also registering five rebounds, two assists and a block.
The game also saw both veteran and rookie contributions in graduate Bukky Akinsola and freshman Greta Ramon. Akinsola provided spark off the bench with nine points on 66.7 percent shooting with steals. Ramon totaled seven points and also provided a steal on the defensive end.
HOW IT HAPPENED
FIRST QUARTER: UNA 12, UTM 7
UNA kicked the contest off with the advantage in quarter one. The Lions jumped out to the early lead with McNamara leading the way with six points. North Alabama's defense set the tone early, holding the Skyhawks to seven points on 2-14 shooting (14.3 percent). Three UNA steals also made the difference with the Lions seizing momentum first.
SECOND QUARTER: UTM 25, UNA 22
UT Martin fought back in quarter two to take a 25-22 halftime lead. The Skyhawks outscored the Lions 18-10 in the frame on 37.5 percent shooting. The teams traded leads three times with the Skyhawks using a late 7-0 run to overtake the Lions heading into the break.
THIRD QUARTER: UNA 41, UTM 36
The Lions' offense came alive in quarter three, using their most offensively-efficient frame to retake the lead. Trailing 32-26, North Alabama went on a 14-2 run in the next five minutes for a 40-34 advantage. Ceppellotti and Criswell carried the offense with 13 combined points —11 coming in the scoring run. UNA shot 50 percent from the field and 60 percent from deep to outscore the Skyhawks, 19-11, heading to the fourth.
FOURTH QUARTER: UNA 57, UTM 54
The Lions used a team-scoring effort and had three separate nine-point leads in the final frame. Efforts from Akinsola (four points), McNamara (4), Ceppellotti (3), Ramon (3) and Criswell (2) led the way offensively, but the Skyhawks continued to battle back. UT Martin worked back from nine-points down to cut the UNA lead to one at 55-54 with 52 seconds left. Heroics from Criswell extended the lead, making a layup with 14 seconds to go. North Alabama's defense fended off a late three-point attempt from UT Martin to clinch the 57-54 triumph.
UP NEXT
North Alabama Women's Basketball is back in action in CB&S Bank Arena on Thursday, Nov. 6, against Fisk. The contest will serve as the Elementary Day game with tipoff set for 11 a.m.
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
