JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Four players scored in double figures as North Florida women's basketball snapped a six-game skid with a 78-70 victory against Lipscomb to secure an Atlantic Sun victory on Monday evening at UNF Arena.

"It was a great game to be a part of. Anytime there is a lot of scoring - it is fun to coach and fun for the fans," said head coach Darrick Gibbs. "The thing I am most proud of is the consistency of four quarters. We scored at least 15 points in each quarter. We made adjustments throughout the game and our team was in tune with what we were doing. I am proud of our effort and glad we were able to get our first win in conference"

The game featured eight lead changes and 12 tie scores. It was the first time since December 12 that the Ospreys recorded more than 70 points and their best shooting night of the season. UNF went 54 percent from the floor on 29-of-53 with nine triples.

Sophomore Sierra Shepherd had 20 points on 8-of-11 from the floor while also recording three rebounds and three assists. Junior Claire Ioannidis put up 16 points with 12 coming from long range. She also dished out a career-best eight helpers with just three turnovers. Taru Madekivi hit double figures for the first time since December 12 with 13 points which included nine from behind the arc.

Senior Kadesia Johnson wrapped up the double-figure scorers with her second straight double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Johnson now has four double-doubles on the season and it was her 10th time leading the team in boards. Johnson was a large part of the 32-22 edge off the glass for the Ospreys and 10 second chance points.

"I am just realizing that good things happen when I am more aggressive," said Johnson. "I am just going in with a more aggressive mindset each game and know I have to crash the boards hard and box out."

Both teams shot more than 50 percent in the opening 20 minutes of play and knotted the score going into halftime. Shepherd scored 11 of her 20 points in the opening 20 minutes, while Johnson had nine.

In the third quarter, a pair of free throws from Alex Banks gave Lipscomb its final lead of the game, 49-48, with 3:42 remaining in the frame. UNF then went on a 6-0 run with four points coming from junior Karrah Johnson to hold a 55-49 lead at the break.

The visitors cut the lead to one with a 7-2 run to open the final quarter, but a put-back from Karrah Johnson followed by a triple from Ioannidis pushed the Ospreys back out front, 62-56, where they stayed for the rest of the night. Forced to foul down the stretch, Lipscomb did not get the result it wanted as the hosts sunk 6-of-8 freebies to hang on for the victory. 

Banks was one of three double-digit scorers for the Bisons with 16 along with Chandler Cooper who hit four three-pointers. Riley Northway had 20 points as well to go with five rebounds.

North Florida now heads out on the road for its next two games. It faces A-Sun newcomer, NJIT, on Saturday, Jan. 23 at 1 p.m. before taking on USC Upstate on Monday at 7 p.m.