FLORENCE, Ala. — University of North Alabama women's basketball head coach Candi Whitaker announced the 2024-25 non-conference schedule Tuesday afternoon, with the Lions scheduling 11 contests before ASUN play begins in 2025.
UNA will host five non-conference games inside CB&S Bank Arena, opening their home slate against South Alabama on Nov. 15 at 5:30 p.m. The day will serve as a premiere double-header alongside the men's team, as the men will host reigning Southern Conference Champion Samford.
"Our challenging non-conference schedule is a mix of Power Four and mid-major competition," said Whitaker. "It will prepare us for ASUN play and gives us a great opportunity to learn a lot about ourselves."
Premium Seating at CB&S Bank Arena for the year has already been sold out, and there are only 10 reserved seats remaining. Pierce Suite passes are still available for $350. For ticket information, contact bbond@una.edu or call 256-765-5466.
To view the full schedule, click here.
GIVE ME FIVE!: Five UNA non-conference matchups will be played in CB&S Bank Arena, with two coming in November and three in December. The first home matchup comes against South Alabama on Nov. 15, followed by a bout against Cumberland on Nov. 25. The Lions will host a pair of in-state rivals in Samford and Alabama A&M on Dec. 5 and 17, respectively, before wrapping the non-conference schedule against Bethel on Dec. 28.
WILD, WILD (MID)WEST: The premiere matchups of the non-conference schedule, North Alabama will play two basketball powerhouses in Kansas and Nebraska. The Big 12 and Big 10 matchups will come on November 17 and 19, respectively, and will serve as the first all-time meetings for the Lions.
TENNESSEE TANGLES: The state of Tennessee is well-represented in the non-conference schedule, with four of the 11 games coming against teams from the Volunteer State. The season will kick-off with two-straight road matchups against UT Martin and Tennessee Tech on November 4 and 10, respectively. The final game of November finds the Lions facing Cumberland in CB&S Bank Arena on Nov. 25. UNA will face Bethel in the final non-conference game on December 28.
THE NORTH VS. THE SOUTH: UNA faces the Sun Belt Conference opponent South Alabama in its first home matchup, battling against the Jaguars for the first time since the 1984-85 season. South Alabama leads the all-time series, 4-2, but North Alabama will look for their second-straight win after being victorious in the last matchup, 77-71.
BATTLING THE BULLDOGS: UNA will play two additional in-state rivals as part of non-conference play, with the Lions welcoming Samford and Alabama A&M in Dec. 5 and Dec. 17 matchups in CB&S Bank Arena. North Alabama hosts the two Alabama schools after previously playing them on the road in 2023-24. The Lions will look to earn their second all-time win over Samford after earning their first in a 69-64 victory on Dec. 19, 2023. North Alabama will go for win number 16 against Alabama A&M, as the Lions lead the all-time series, 15-1.
PREMIERING AT PINE BLUFF: Dec. 1 finds the Lions facing their third first-time opponent of the season when they hit the road to face Arkansas-Pine Bluff. The Southwestern Athletic Conference members are coming off a 17-16 season with 12-7 record in the SWAC in 2023-24.
(OVER) A THOUSAND MILES AWAY: North Alabama will travel over 1,000 miles in a pre-Christmas matchup against the Denver Pioneers on Dec. 21. In what will be the furthest road trip of season, the Lions will look to claim their first win of the series in the second all-time meeting between the two teams.
TOURNAMENT TEAMS: UNA will face three non-conference qualifiers from last season's NCAA Tournament in Kansas, Nebraska and UT Martin. The No. 6 seed Huskers opened their 2024 tournament with an opening-round win against No. 11 Texas A&M, 61-59, before falling to No. 3 Oregon State in the second round. The No. 8 Jayhawks opened their tournament with an 81-72 win over No. 9 Michigan before falling to No. 1 seed USC in the second round. UT Martin made an appearance in the First Four of tournament play, but were unable to advance after falling to Holy Cross, 72-45.
ASUN PLAY: UNA opens conference play on Thursday, Jan. 2 at Bellarmine. There are 18 conference games on the schedule this season, and for more information on the conference schedule, click here.
