Basketball teams aim high in 2024-25

The University of North Georgia's (UNG) basketball teams tip off their seasons in early November with their sights set on national and Peach Belt Conference (PBC) supremacy.

"We can't wait to see our basketball teams in action this season," Athletics Director Mary Rob Plunkett said. "Building off our men's program's history-making run in 2024 and our women's team's consistent postseason success, 2024-25 has a chance to be one of our best seasons yet."

Under sixth-year head coach Dan Evans' direction, the UNG men's basketball team is coming off its first-ever PBC tournament championship and first NCAA Division II championship appearance after hosting and winning the Southeast Regional.

The Nighthawks open the season Nov. 2-3 at the Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Classic in Lakeland, Florida. They take on St. Thomas Aquinas at 8 p.m. Nov. 2 before facing reigning national champion Minnesota State at 8 p.m. Nov. 3. Their home opener is at 7 p.m. Nov. 12 against Tusculum.

First-team All-PBC selection AJ White and NCAA Southeast Regional Most Outstanding Player Cayden Charles lead six returnees from the Nighthawks' rotation on the history-making 2023-24 team. The group also welcomes three freshmen and two transfers. JC Cavin has joined Evans' staff with returning assistant coach Ben Casanova.

Women's basketball head coach Buffie Burson starts her 31st season seeking a seventh NCAA tournament appearance in eight seasons. Former national Player of the Year Julianne Sutton has joined Burson's staff alongside returning assistant coach and former teammate Amber Skidgel.

The Nighthawks tip off their season Nov. 8-9 in the Peach Belt/Conference Carolinas Challenge at home in the Convocation Center, facing Emmanuel at 6 p.m. Nov. 8 and Young Harris at 4 p.m. Nov. 9.

Graduate student guard Caroline Martin and graduate student forward Emily Trushel, both two-time All-PBC performers, lead the Nighthawks. Martin returns after missing the entire 2023-24 season, and Trushel is back for a second season with UNG after playing her first three seasons at fellow PBC school USC Aiken.

The UNG rifle team began its season in October and hosts two home matches: Nov. 9 against Wofford and Jan. 26 against Kentucky.

It will compete in the Southern Conference championship Feb. 8-9 at Georgia Southern University in Statesboro, Georgia.

Junior Elysa Walter leads the UNG rifle team, coming off a first-team all-conference season in 2023-24 and a fifth-place national finish in air rifle as a freshman in 2022-23.