AUBURN, Ala. - Despite four players reaching double figures, North Florida women's basketball (2-4) could not recover from a slow first quarter as it fell at Auburn, 94-81, on Thursday evening at Auburn Arena.
Ospreys of the Game
Turning Point
North Florida hit just one basket in the final three minutes of the game and Auburn went 5-for-7 to put the game out of reach. The Tigers also went 6-for-7 at the line to secure the win.
QUOTE FROM THE TOP
"We were right there! We generated opportunities and show a ton of resilience. We are growing and getting better and that is all I can ask for." -
head coach Darrick Gibbs
INSIDE THE GAME
- North Florida went on a 9-1 run to open the game and force an Auburn (5-2) timeout. It was worth it because the hosts got hot and held the Ospreys without a point for more than two minutes to lead 19-13.
- Rhetta Moore ended the drought with a triple before the Tigers ended the frame on a 14-3 streak to lead 27-16 after one.
- After taking Auburn took its biggest lead of the game, 35-18, North Florida used an 9-2 run to pull within seven. Both teams then went cold with a scoring drought of more than two minutes for both squads, but the Tigers hit back-to-back lay ups to lead 44-32 at the half.
- In the third, the Ospreys used a 14-8 stretch to close the game to within 56-46 on a Bond layup. The teams then traded baskets with Auburn owning a 66-53 lead after three.
- North Florida used an 11-5 run to open the fourth quarter to close back within single digits, 71-64 with 6:39 to play.
- Emma Broermann got the game to, 75-69, with her lone points of the game, but it was not enough as Auburn kept its distance, hitting 5-of-7 down the stretch.
Osprey Fast Breaks
- For the third time this season, North Florida made 10 or more three-pointers. Moore led with four, while Bond and Mackins each recorded two.
- Bond has now scored 20 or more points in three straight games and Moore has reached the milestone in three games as well.
- North Florida has now hit 80 or more points four times this season, matching last year's team.
- It was UNF's best outing from the line, going 7-for-8.
- Mackins dished out eight assists for the second time this season and leads the team with 27.
- Auburn capitalized on 22 UNF turnovers with 26 points including 11 points in the first quarter.
What's Next
North Florida faces its second SEC opponent in as many games as it travels to Gainesville to play the Gators for the first time since 2014 on Monday, Dec. 21 at 2 p.m.
