Hanson Leads Ospreys to First ASUN Victory

Monday, January 16

Spartanburg, S.C.

7:00 p.m.

University of North Florida

8-10, 1-2ASUN

USC Upstate

8-10, 1-2ASUN

North Florida

USC Upstate

Photo by: Todd Drexler

1/16/2017 9:32:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

By: North Florida Athletics

SPARTANBURG, S.C. - North Florida women's basketball rushed out from the opening tip and never looked back as it earned its first ASUN victory with a 78-67 win at USC Upstate on Monday evening at Hodge Center.

QUICK GLANCE
Score: North Florida 78, Upstate 67
Records: North Florida (8-10, 1-2 ASUN) | Upstate (8-10, 1-2 ASUN)
Location: Hodge Center (Spartanburg, S.C.)
The Short Story: The Ospreys outscored the Spartans 25-9 in the opening 10 minutes and never looked back behind five players' double-digit performances led by junior Tesh Hanson's career-high 27.

GAMEDAY MEDIA CENTER
Final Boxscore: PDF | Full Book

OPENING TIP
- The win snaps seven-game losing streak against the Spartans and is the first win at Hodge Center since February 9, 2002.
- Hanson recorded a career-high 27 points thanks to 18 in the first half and also tallied her second straight double-double with 12 rebounds. Hanson shot 68 percent from the floor her 11th contest shooting above 45 percent.
- Junior Sierra Shepherd added 13 points, three steals and two assists.
- Classmate Jaiveonna Norris recorded 11 points, going 5-for-6 from the field. She also grabbed eight rebounds, had two blocks, two assists and two steals.
- Senior Claire Ioannidis put up 11 points after a 6-for-6 outing from the free throw line while also dishing out four helpers.
- Wrapping up the double-figure scorers was Simone Brown with 10 points. The guard also had five rebounds, three assists and a block.
- Upstate's Raven Jefferson tallied 22 points and had eight rebounds.

GAME CAPSULE
First Half Trends
- Upstate held the lead for the opening minute, but UNF quickly pressed on the gas going on a 21-5 run and allowing just one Upstate basket in the final three minutes of the quarter.
- The Ospreys outscored Upstate 25-9 with the 25 points being the most since Morehead State when UNF had 23.
- North Florida shot an impressive 61 percent from the floor to the Spartans 36 percent.
- The Ospreys also capitalized on nine Spartan turnovers and scored 11 points.
- In the second quarter, USC Upstate closed the lead to 13 on a triple from Raven Jefferson, but UNF went on a 6-0 run to go out front by 33-14.
- After two UNF turnovers, the Spartans were right back in the game with back-to-back fast break buckets from Tamera Thorpe.
- Another basket from Jefferson pulled Upstate to within 37-23, but North Florida took the 40-24 lead into the half.
- After one half, Hanson was one board shy of a double-double with 16 points and nine rebounds.

Second Half Trends
- UNF opened the third quarter on a 10-4 run and eventually took its biggest lead of the game on a lay up from Ioannidis, 56-31.
- With two triples in the next two minutes, Upstate pulled to within 19, but the Ospreys closed out the frame 65-40.
- The 25 points scored in the third is second behind a 26-point performance against Nicholls State in November.
- Upstate quickly got back in the game in the final frame as it went on a 16-5 run to pull within 11 and eventually to within nine on a lay in from Tamera Thorpe with less than a minute to play.
- Despite only scoring two buckets in the final quarter, North Florida was clutch at the line down the stretch going 8-for-9 in the final two minutes of the game.

INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
- For the second straight game, #22 Norris has scored the 22nd point of the game.
- North Florida has only scored 40 or more points in the first half in three contests prior to today.
- UNF is now 7-0 this season when scoring 70 or more points and 6-2 shooting better than 40 percent.
- North Florida outshot Upstate, 46 percent to 43 percent and was better in all but the fourth quarter.
- Upstate recorded 10 field goals in the final frame, which equaled the first and second quarters combined.
- This is the third time this season four or more players score in double figures in a game.
- Freshman Adrienne Jackson picked up a career-high four steals as the Ospreys grabbed 11.

SAY WHAT...
"I am so proud of this group and how they've responded! We showed our true character tonight and played very well together. Road wins are important and I am hoping we can build on this and continue to grow!" - Head Coach Darrick Gibbs

NEXT UP
- The Ospreys get back home as they host Lipscomb on Saturday, Jan. 21 at 1 p.m.