Turnovers Hamper @OspreyWBB at Mercer

Saturday, January 2

Macon, Ga.

5:00 p.m.

University of North Florida

4-11

Mercer

9-5

North Florida

Mercer

1/2/2016 7:13:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

MACON, Ga. - Despite a 20-point performance from Claire Ioannidis, Mercer capitalized on North Florida women's basketball 20 turnovers as the Ospreys dropped a 68-54 decision at Hawkins Arena on Saturday evening to wrap up non-conference play.

Ioannidis led the team in scoring for the seventh time this season and turned in her fifth 20-point performance with 23 total points. She shot 8-for-14 from the field with a game-high five three-pointers, while grabbing down five rebounds. Sophomore Sierra Shepherd just missed double figure scoring with eight points, while Taru Madekivi also recorded eight points.

Senior Kadesia Johnson grabbed a team-high eight rebounds after missing the previous two games, while Maiya Rumph also had six boards, all coming in the first half of the game. As a team though, UNF (4-11) struggled off the glass with Mercer (9-5) holding a 51-30 edge and scoring 17 second chance points off of 26 offensive boards.

An opening three from Madekivi gave UNF its largest lead of the night, but for the rest of the contest it was Mercer's game. Trailing by three late in the first period, Johnson recorded four straight points before a free throw from Rumph put UNF out front for the final time, 14-12. Back-to-back Bears' baskets closed out the opening frame giving Mercer the 16-14 lead.

The Ospreys tied the game on a triple from Madekivi with 3:02 left in the first half for the final time of the night. Mercer then closed out the frame with a jumper from Keke Calloway, who finished with a game-high 17 points, and a pair of freebies from Amanda Thompson for a 32-28 halftime score.

Mercer opened up the game on a 18-3 run to begin the third quarter and held the Ospreys to just two baskets - both coming from Ioannidis from long-range. The home team eventually took its largest lead of the game, 60-36, in the fourth quarter and never looked back.

For the first time this season, UNF outshot its opponents in a loss, hitting 20-for-48 from the floor for a 41 percent clip, while Mercer went 34 percent from the floor on 27-for-78.

Calloway led a trio of double-figure scorers with Linnea Rosendal and Kahlia Lawrence recording 14 and 10 points, respectively. Kayla Potts topped the team with 14 rebounds including nine of the offensive variety.

North Florida now has a week to prepare for crosstown rival Jacksonville. The Ospreys open conference play against the Dolphins on Saturday, Jan. 9 at 1 p.m.