Women's Basketball Captures 77-64 Conference-Opening Win Against Lipscomb

Monday, December 31

Jacksonville, Fla.

2 p.m.

University of North Florida

-57, 10 ASun

Lipscomb

-110, 01 ASun

Lipscomb

North Florida

Women's Basketball Captures 77-64 Conference-Opening Win Against Lipscomb

12/31/2012 7:01:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

By: North Florida Athletics

Boxscore (PDF)

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Four Ospreys reached double-figures in scoring and University of North Florida women's basketball opened Atlantic Sun Conference play with a 77-64 win over Lipscomb Monday afternoon at UNF Arena.

“We were trying to end 2012 on a good note and start conference play 1-0 at home,” said head coach Mary Tappmeyer. “We accomplished that. We are getting more comfortable with our offense and are making reads and sharing the ball. When that happens, we're tough to guard.”

Junior Raneisha Lamar notched her second double-double of the season with a 12-point, 13-rebound performance. Fabiola Josil had a season-best 19 points and was 11-for-13, including 7-for-8 in the last 3:24, from the foul line. Ki Conner and Jadhken Kerr added in 13 and 12 points, respectively.

Alex Banks led the Lady Bisons with 24 points, while Hannah Phillips grabbed a team-best six rebounds.

UNF out-shot and out-rebounded Lipscomb. The Ospreys shot 45.1 percent (23-for-51) from the field and grabbed 35 boards. Lipscomb was 41.5 percent (22-for-53) for the game and tallied 30 rebounds.

For the second-straight game, the UNF came out firing in the first half. The Ospreys shot 53.8 percent (14-for-26) from the field and 54.5 percent (6-for-11) from three-point range. UNF was 6-for-11 from long range in the first against Coastal Carolina on Dec. 19.

Conner powered the Ospreys' first half offense with 11 of her 13 points coming in the opening half. Up by eight, Conner hit her first of three treys at 11:23 that put UNF up 23-12. From that basket on, UNF maintained a double-digit lead throughout the rest of the half. The Ospreys took their largest lead of the half – 18 points – with 1:08 to go when Conner swished a trey to make it 39-21. Lipscomb cut UNF's lead to 15 when Presley Stastny hit a three-pointer in the half's final seconds and the Ospreys carried a 39-24 advantage into the break.

UNF took its largest lead of the game at the start of the second half when a jumper by Josil gave the Ospreys a 20-point, 44-24 advantage at 18:12. Lipscomb responded with a 13-2 run that pulled the Lady Bisons to within nine as Kelli Smith hit a three-points at 15:29 to make it 46-37.

An 8-0 run allowed UNF to go up by 17 with 13:01 to go, but Lipscomb attempted to cut into the Ospreys' lead and came to within seven on a Banks jumper at 3:44. However, UNF closed out the game and the win behind solid free throw shooting. The Ospreys were 13-for-16 from the foul line in the final 3:24. Josil, Lamar, Kerr and Jasmine Hicks combined for all of UNF's foul throws made and attempts.

UNF returns to action on Wednesday against A-Sun newcomer Northern Kentucky. The women's game is the first of a doubleheader with the men's teams. The women's game tips off at 5 p.m., from UNF Arena.