FLORENCE, Ala. (Interstat) — The North Alabama Lions used a dominant third quarter and a disruptive defensive effort to pull away from the Jacksonville State Gamecocks for a 66-54 victory in a non-conference women’s basketball game on Monday night at Flowers Hall.

North Alabama remained undefeated, improving to 3-0, while Jacksonville State evened its record at 1-1.

The Lions seized control of the game after halftime, outscoring the Gamecocks 20-9 in the third quarter to turn a seven-point halftime advantage into a commanding 55-36 lead. The surge proved insurmountable for a Jacksonville State team that struggled to find offensive consistency throughout the contest.

North Alabama’s defense was the story, forcing 18 Jacksonville State turnovers and converting them into 17 points. The Lions also recorded 14 steals, more than tripling the Gamecocks’ total of four. Bukky Akinsola was a catalyst for the defensive pressure, finishing with five of those steals to go along with 10 points, seven rebounds and five assists.

The Lions’ offense was balanced and efficient, with four players scoring in double figures. Cameron McNamara led the way with 15 points and five rebounds. Alexsandra Alvarado added 13 points, six rebounds and three assists, while Sofia Ceppellotti chipped in eight points.

Jacksonville State was led by Makala Hobdy, who delivered a strong individual performance with a game-high 16 points and eight rebounds. Adriana Jones added 10 points for the Gamecocks.

The game was characterized by contrasting offensive efficiencies. North Alabama scored 66 points on 71 possessions for an offensive rating of 92.9. Jacksonville State, meanwhile, managed just 54 points on 74 possessions, resulting in an offensive rating of 73.4. The Lions also shared the ball effectively, dishing out 14 assists compared to just four for the Gamecocks.

Jacksonville State started competitively, trailing by just four points, 19-15, after the first quarter. The Lions built their lead to 35-27 by halftime before the decisive third-quarter run put the game out of reach. The Gamecocks showed fight in the final period, outscoring North Alabama 18-11, but the deficit was too large to overcome.

A crowd of 1,170 at Flowers Hall saw the Lions continue their strong start to the season, which also includes wins over Tennessee-Martin and Fisk. Jacksonville State was coming off a lopsided win over LaGrange in its season opener.

North Alabama is scheduled to travel to face Oklahoma on Friday. Jacksonville State will return home to host Southern Mississippi on Thursday.