NASHVILLE, Tenn. – North Florida women's basketball could not shut down a hot-shooting Lipscomb team as the Lady Bisons won, 78-71, on Saturday afternoon at Allen Arena.
 
Four Ospreys scored in double figures including a game-high 18 from freshman Hadley Kiefer. Claire Ioannidis and Kadesia Johnson each scored 16, while Sierra Shepherd chipped in 10. Shepherd also dished out six assists with just two turnovers.
 
For the fourth straight game, UNF shot above 40 percent, going 24-for-54 against the Bisons. However, the Ospreys hit just seven from long range and mustered just two in the second half. Ioannidis and Kiefer were the lone Ospreys to hit a trey. Despite hitting just seven three-pointers, the 2015-16 squad set the single-season record for three-pointers made and now have 172 with four games still to play.
 
Lipscomb hit a season-high 12 three-pointers and shot 47 percent from the field – its second best outing of the season. Amber Fuqua was a perfect 4-for-4 from behind the arc, while Alex Banks had there from long range.
 
UNF took an early lead, 5-2, but it would be its final of the game. The hosts quickly tied the game and eventually led 20-13 with 3:17 left in the frame. A triple and lay up brought UNF within 20-18, but with the clock winding down Kelli Smith hit a three-pointer to give Lipscomb a 23-18 lead at the end of one.
 
The second period saw Lipscomb balloon its lead to 14, 46-32, late in the quarter. Loren Cagle scored all 12 of her points in the first half including eight in the second quarter. She was a contributor for the remainder of the game though with nine rebounds and six assists. Lipscomb went into the break with a 46-35 lead.
 
In the third, the Lady Bisons kept their distance with a double-figure advantage with its final coming at 56-46. UNF then rattled off an 8-0 run to come within, 56-54 with 1:28 remaining, but then came up empty on its next two possessions and would never get over the hump.
 
North Florida battled in the final quarter, but the Bisons never backed down.  The Ospreys could not convert a basket in four attempts and in the final three minutes, Lipscomb went 5-for-6 from the line to secure its second straight victory.
 
Playing in just her second game in more than a month, Southern led seven players in double figures. She had a team-best 17 points and just missed a double-double with nine boards. Cagle, Fuqua and Chandler Cooper all had 12 points.
 
North Florida looks to get back in the win column when it travels to Kennesaw State on Monday, Feb. 15. Game time is set for 7 p.m. in the KSU Convocation Center.