LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Interstat) — The North Alabama Lions used a dominant first half and a balanced offensive attack to cruise past the Bellarmine Knights 87-54 in an ASUN Conference women’s basketball game Wednesday night at Knights Hall.

The Lions seized control early, opening the game on a 20-7 run and never looking back. They led 20-14 after the first quarter and then exploded in the second, outscoring the Knights 25-11 to take a commanding 45-25 lead into halftime. The Lions maintained their advantage throughout the second half, leading by as many as 35 points before settling into the 33-point victory.

The most important part of the game was North Alabama’s immediate and sustained defensive pressure, which created a cascade of Bellarmine turnovers and missed shots, fueling the Lions’ transition offense and allowing them to build an insurmountable lead before the midway point of the second quarter. This defensive intensity set the tone for the entire contest and prevented any chance of a Bellarmine rally.

North Alabama was led by a standout performance from Gabby Jackson. The 6-foot-1 junior from Kansas City, Missouri, filled the stat sheet with 13 points, nine rebounds, four assists, a steal and a block in 32 minutes. Her all-around play anchored the Lions on both ends of the floor.

She was far from alone, however, as four other Lions scored in double figures. Sofia Ceppellotti, a 6-foot-1 sophomore from Udine, Italy, led all scorers with 21 points and added five rebounds. Katie Criswell contributed 16 points and six assists, while India Howard came off the bench to add 14 points and seven rebounds in just 16 minutes. Alexsandra Alvarado posted a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds to go with five assists.

Bellarmine, struggling through a difficult season, was led by Ava Smith’s game-high 22 points. The 5-foot-8 guard from Camas, Washington, was the only Knight to reach double figures. Kayce Hyman added 10 points.

North Alabama improved its season record to 14-12 overall and strengthened its position in the ASUN standings. Bellarmine fell to 2-26. The Lions shot efficiently from the field while holding the Knights to a poor shooting percentage, though specific figures were not immediately available. The announced attendance was 318.

The game was a reversal of the teams’ first meeting this season on Jan. 10, which North Alabama won 67-52. The Lions have now won two of their last three games. Bellarmine has lost 10 consecutive contests.

Interstat’s ELO system had given North Alabama an 80.2 percent probability to win, a projection the Lions exceeded with their comprehensive performance.

North Alabama returns home to face Lipscomb on Saturday. Bellarmine continues its season on the road at Austin Peay, also on Saturday.