Clutch Scoring Lifts Women's Basketball Over Northern Kentucky, 59-55

Wednesday, January 2

Jacksonville, Fla.

5 p.m.

University of North Florida

-67, 20 ASun

Northern Kentucky

-38, 02 ASun

Northern Kentucky

North Florida

Clutch Scoring Lifts Women's Basketball Over Northern Kentucky, 59-55

1/2/2013 10:07:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

By: North Florida Athletics

Boxscore (PDF)

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Junior Ki Conner swished a three and then made two key free throws all in the final 25 seconds and University of North Florida women's basketball took a 59-55 win from Northern Kentucky Wednesday evening at UNF Arena.

“In the A-Sun, every game is going to be a one or two possession game,” said UNF head coach Mary Tappmeyer. “There's too much parity in the league and there will not be too many blowouts. Every possession is critical. We did not do a good job on the offensive boards and were less disciplined on defense than what I would like. But Ki hit some big baskets down the stretch and we executed the game plan when we needed to.

“We've been placing a lot of emphasis on free throws, especially since we've gotten back from Christmas break,” continued Tappmeyer. “It's been paying off.”

Conner paced the Ospreys with 17 points, while Destinee Smith tallied 15. Raneisha Lamar and Jasmine Hicks each pulled down six rebounds. Fabiola Josil swiped five balls, including a critical one with 13 seconds left in the game.

Ellen Holton led Northern Kentucky with 13 points and Tiara Hopper and Christine Roush each added 11 points. Holton and Kayla Thacker each grabbed seven boards.

UNF shot 41.5 percent (22-for-53) for the night. Northern Kentucky was 20-for-49 from the floor and shot 49.8 percent. The Norse also held a 34-31 edge in rebounds.

A seven-minute Osprey scoring drought that midway through the first half allowed Northern Kentucky to take a seven-point lead. The Norse went up 17-10 at 8:23 on a Hopper jumper. UNF fought back and finished out the first half with an 8-1 run. Trailing by five, Smith hit a trey that started the Ospreys run at 2:58. After Chandler Merkerson sank a pair of free throws to tie the game up at 22-22, Smith hit the go-ahead jumper at 56 seconds. UNF ultimately took a 26-23 lead going into halftime.

Both teams battled for control of the game in the second half. The largest lead held by either team was a six-point margin by the Ospreys early in the half. A layup from Josil put UNF up 32-26 with 17:07 to go.

Northern Kentucky cut into UNF's lead and took a one-point 38-37 advantage on a Christine Roush jumper at 11:05. From that point, four ties occurred throughout the remainder of the game, including at 42 seconds when Thacker made her first of two foul shots to knot it up at 54-54. Thacker also made the second and the Norse held a one-point 55-54 lead, but Conner swished home a crucial trey at 25 seconds to put UNF ahead for the rest of the game.

UNF returns to the road for its first away conference game this Saturday. The Ospreys visit Stetson for a 1 p.m., game at the Edmunds Center.