Women’s Basketball set for season opener Monday at UT Martin - University of North Alabama Athletics

Women's Basketball 11/2/2024 3:40:00 PM

MARTIN, Tenn. (November 2, 2024) – The University of North Alabama women's basketball teams hits the road for its 2024-25 season opener this Monday, taking on the UT Martin Skyhawks on Nov. 4 in Martin, Tenn.UNA looks to have a strong debut under new women's basketball head coach Candi Whitaker, who was hired this past March. After nine months of preparation, the Whitaker era officially begins against the Skyhawks in a nearby regional showdown.The contest tips off from Kathleen and Tom Elam Center at 6 p.m. The match will be available for streaming on ESPN+, and live stats will be provided courtesy of StatBroadcast. Fans can also catch "Voice of the Lions" Benjamin Ray on WLX Radio beginning with the "Countdown to Tipoff" at 5:40 p.m. Fans locally can listen on both 98.3 or 103.5 FM or worldwide on the WLX app or website — linked below.Box scores and a recap will be posted on RoarLions.com following the action, but fans can follow along in real time on the UNA Athletics social media pages.GAME INFOGame: North Alabama at UT MartinDate: Monday, November 4Time: 6:00 p.m.Location: Martin, Tenn.Venue: Kathleen and Tom Elam CenterWatch: ESPN+Radio: WLX 98.3 / 103.5 FM ("Voice of the Lions" Benjamin Ray)Live Stats: StatBroadcastSocial Media: @UNAAthleticsNOTESA NEW ERA STARTS: The 2024-25 season will signify a new era for North Alabama Women's Basketball, with Candi Whitaker becoming UNA's ninth head coach in program history. Whitaker comes to the Lions after a five-year tenure at Missouri Western, where she compiled a 100-47 record with the Griffons and led them to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight in 2022. Missouri Western also won the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) regular season championship in 2024. For her efforts, Whitaker was named the 2024 MIAA Coach of the Year.OPENING NIGHT MAGIC: North Alabama will go for its fourth-straight win in season openers. Last season, the Lions defeated Tennessee Southern in a home season opener, following wins against Blackburn College and Christian Brothers in 2021-22 and 2022-23, respectively. North Alabama has been victorious in seven of the past 10 opening games, with the last road season opener coming in a 74-71 upset of SEC opponent Vanderbilt on Nov. 6, 2018.SCOUTING THE LIONS: The University of North Alabama women's basketball team will feature nine returning contributors, including three of its top five scorers and all three of the top rebounders and assisters. North Alabama also returns three starters along with seven of the top 10 players in minutes played. In total, the Lions returns 60 percent of contributions from 2023-24.CAPTAIN CLUTTER: Junior Alyssa Clutter is the top returning scorer for North Alabama, with the guard averaging 9.6 points per game in 2023-24 while shooting 50.5 percent from the floor. Clutter also displayed her two-way prowess leading the Lions with 138 rebounds and 40 steals.YEAR TWO FOR TWEEDY: Sophomore Veronaye Charlton returns to UNA after a solid rookie campaign that resulted in ASUN All-Freshman team honors. The guard averaged 9.5 points per game in 2023-24 and showed her scoring ability with 13 double-digit point games, including two 20-point outings. She also finished among the top 100 players nation-wide in free-throw percentage, shooting 81.7 percent from the charity stripe to rank 94th.SARA THE STAR: Graduate guard Sara Wohlgemuth enters her third season with the Lions, averaging 5.0 points, 4.2 assists and 3.8 rebounds in 2023-24. The assist leader for the Lions, she finished second in the ASUN in assist/turnover ratio (1.55) and assists per game (4.2) while third in total assists (127). Wohlgemuth also showed she could step her game up against Power Four opposition, achieving her first career double-double against Missouri with 11 points and 10 assists to go with five rebounds and four steals.HOWARD ON THE BLOCK: Junior India Howard looks to improve in her second year with the Lions, leading from the paint with averages of 4.5 points on 60.9 percent shooting and 4.2 rebounds. She finished second on the team in rebounds, and her paint presence was felt last season with 27 blocks — fifth in the ASUN.SCOUTING UT MARTIN: The Skyhawks finished the 2023-24 season with a 16-17 record and an 11-7 record in the Ohio Valley Conference. UT Martin finished runner-up in the conference tournament, falling to top-seeded Southern Indiana in the final. The Skyhawks appeared in the First Four round of the NCAA Tournament, dropping the matchup to No. 16 Holy Cross 72-45. The Skyhawks return four of their five primary starters from last year, including the top three scorers in Kenley McCarn (16.5 PPG), Anaya Brown (15.1 PPG) and Norah Clark (10 PPG). They are led by Kevin McMillan in his 15th year.SERIES HISTORY: North Alabama leads the series, 15-5, including a 4-4 record in the road contests. The last matchup came on Nov. 21, 2023, where the Lions defeated the Skyhawks, 70-63, in CB&S Bank Arena. Monday marks only the second meeting since the 1991-92 season.PRESEASON RANKS: The Atlantic Sun Conference announced its 2024 preseason information for women's basketball on Oct. 10, with North Alabama voted seventh in the media poll and ninth in the coaches poll. FGCU was voted first in both polls.For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

10.10.24

08.20.24

07.12.24

06.21.24

04.05.24