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University of North Florida Athletics

Ty Purifoy dribbles the basketball
Todd Drexler
78
Winner North Florida UNF 11-12, 6-6 ASUN
59
NJIT NJIT 5-19, 2-9 ASUN
Winner
North Florida UNF
11-12, 6-6 ASUN
78
Final
59
NJIT NJIT
5-19, 2-9 ASUN
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
North Florida UNF 22 19 26 11 78
NJIT NJIT 16 16 20 7 59

Game Recap: Women's Basketball | | North Florida Athletics

Defense Leads Ospreys to Dominant Win at NJIT

Final Boxscore

NEWARK, N.J. - Four of five North Florida starters reached double figures in a dominating 78-59 road victory at NJIT on Saturday. The Ospreys earned their sixth ASUN victory of the season and third league road win.

Arianna Emanuel-Wright paced the balanced attack for the Ospreys finishing with 18 points, going 7-of-10 from the floor.

Leaders
UNF NJIT
  • Ellyn Stoll | 12 points
  • Kelly Guarino | 10 points

Inside the First Half
After NJIT scored the opening basket, North Florida answered with a 16-6 run to double up the Highlanders on the scoreboard midway through the half. The Highlanders netted the next six points before watching UNF close the half with six of the final eight points and a 22-16 first quarter lead. Emanuel-Wright scored eight points to pace the Ospreys

North Florida's margin grew to double digits early in the second half behind a defensive effort that limited NJIT to just two points through the first four minutes of play. The squads had a stretch of basket trading until the Ospreys closed the half with the final six points for the 41-32 halftime advantage. 

Inside the Second Half
The Ospreys seized control of the game in the third quarter as a 26-11 surge allowed the margin to grow to 24 points (67-43) with 1:58 left in the period. UNF would go cold from the field, watching the Highlanders cut in the deficit by scoring the final nine points of the quarter. Despite the scoring lull, North Florida maintained a 67-52 lead headed into the final quarter. 

UNF's drought continued for over five minutes of the final period, but a very stingy defense surrendered just four points to NJIT and kept the lead in double figures. North Florida would outscore the Highlanders 10-2 down the stretch to earn the comfortable 78-59 decision.

Osprey Fast Breaks
  • Emanuel-Wright topped the 20-point mark for the sixth time this season and fourth time in the last five games
  • Osprey defense limited NJIT to 32 percent shooting for the game and just 25 percent from the arc
  • North Florida turned 12 Highlander miscues into 10 points while also holding a 14-5 edge in second chance points
  • Eremeeva reached double-digit rebounds for the 9th time this season
  • Bond and Jackson both scored in double-figures for the 14th time
  • Six ASUN victories marks the most under Darrick Gibbs and is the highest conference win total since winning 7 in 2012-13
  • UNF won the battle of the boards, 39-31
Thoughts From the Top
"This was a great, balanced team win for us. We did a solid job mixing up our defenses. Outside of that fourth quarter, we executed very well on the offensive end of the floor. I'm really excited about where we are to be in place to push through this home stretch of the regular season." - Head coach Darrick Gibbs.

What's Next
North Florida faces rival Jacksonville in the River City Rumble rematch, Tuesday in Historic Swisher Gym at 7 p.m.

 
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