@OspreyWBB Hits School-Record 18 Threes in Thrilling OT Win

Saturday, November 28

Jacksonville, Fla.

3:00 p.m.

University of North Florida

2-5

Towson

2-4

OT 1

Towson

North Florida

Photo by: Todd Drexler

11/28/2015 7:21:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Box Score (PDF) | Bethune/WIU Box Score (PDF)
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The North Florida women's basketball team prevailed 74-72 in overtime to defeat Towson University (2-4) in the final game of the UNF Thanksgiving Classic. The Ospreys drained a new school-record, 18 three-pointers and earned their second win of the season.

Junior Claire Ioannidis took control of the overtime session by netting eight of her team-high 16 points. Trailing by one point in the final minute of overtime, Ioannidis knocked down the go-ahead three-pointer for the Ospreys with just 7.1 seconds left.

To send the game into extra time, Freshman Hadley Kiefer connected on her fourth three of the game with just 1.7 seconds left in regulation to tie the game at 65. The first year guard finished the game with a season-high 14 points.

The Ospreys erased an 11-point, second half deficit and used a 17-6 run beginning at the 5:26 mark of the 3^rd quarter all the way until Kiefer's buzzer-beating three at the end of regulation.

"I was really proud of how we battle and responded after giving up the lead early in the third quarter," said first year Head Coach Darrick Gibbs. "We had multiple people step up and make huge shots for us, none more important than Hadley Kiefer's at the end of regulation."

Four players were in in double figures for the Ospreys including Ioannidis and Kiefer. Sophomore Sierra Shepherd put together her second-straight double digit scoring effort with 15 points of 5-of-12 shooting. All five makes came from beyond the three-point line and she totaled 27 points in two UNF Thanksgiving Classic games. Junior Taru Madekivi put together another career night, with 15 points, six rebounds and three assists.

Kadesia Johnson and Maiya Rumph were all over the boards for North Florida with 11 and 10 rebounds respectively. Johnson has eight or more rebounds in four of her last five games. On the offensive end Johnson totaled eight points while Rumph added six. Rumph was a perfect 4-for-4 from the free throw line for the second-straight day.

North Florida led for the majority of the contest, including a 33-26 advantage at the half. The Tigers took their first lead on a 10-0 run to begin the third quarter. The Ospreys didn't regain the lead until an Ioannidis jumper in overtime.

Towson junior Raven Bankston led all scorers with 21 points on 9-of-21 shooting. She also had a team-high nine rebounds, including four on the offensive end. Sianni Martin added 15 points and Dominique Johnson chipped in 14 off the bench for the Tigers.

The Ospreys topped a nearly 10-year old single game, three-point mark of 15 set by the 2004-2005 team against Georgia College and State on Feb. 2, 2005. The previous Division 1 era (2005-present) high of 13 came against Coastal Carolina on Dec. 19, 2012.

The Ospreys will be back in action next Saturday when they travel to Atlanta for a non-conference matchup with Georgia State.

RECAP: Record setting night in thrilling OT win over Towson! https://t.co/nswZuLF8Ad pic.twitter.com/dBb4a4nC39
— UNF Women's Hoops (@OspreyWBB) November 29, 2015

All-Tournament Team
MVP - Sophie Reichelt – WIU
Michelle Maher - WIU
Sianni Martin – Towson
Daijha Thomas-Towson
Kendra Cooper-Bethune
Sierra Shepherd – UNF

Tournament Results:
1^st – WIU (1-1) – (+10)
2^nd – Towson (1-1) – (+4)
3^rd – UNF (1-1) – (-2)
4^th – Bethune (1-1) – (-12)
*Tiebreaker applied was tournament point differential.