Slow Start Hurts Ospreys at Florida

Monday, December 21

Gainesville, Fla.

2 p.m.

University of North Florida

2-5,0-0ASUN

Florida

7-1,0-0SEC

North Florida

Florida

Photo by: Gator Photos

12/21/2020 4:50:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

GAINESVILLE, Fla. - North Florida women's basketball was outscored just five points in the final three quarters, but a slow start hampered the Ospreys as Florida won, 89-64, at Exactech Arena on Monday afternoon.

Ospreys of the Game

Jazz Bond | 16 pts, 5 reb, 3 blocks
Nubia Benedith | 9 pts, 2-3 3PT
Rhetta Moore | 7 pts, 5 ast, 3 stl

Turning Point

Florida (7-1) used a 12-0 run late in the first quarter to own a 31-8 lead and it never looked back. In the final three quarters, UNF (2-5) trailed by just five.

QUOTE FROM THE TOP

"Florida did a really good job early speeding us up and it took us too long to adjust on our end of the floor. Outside of the first quarter, we were solid. I loved our effort and fight, but we are not going to win many games giving up as many offensive rebounds as we did. Our non-conference schedule has been brutal and we have learned and grown a lot. Now it is time to refresh, reset over this break and then get ready for our conference run." - head coach Darrick Gibbs

INSIDE THE GAME

It was Florida's game from the start as it jumped out to a 17-5 lead and held UNF without a basket for more than three minutes. The hosts then used another 12-0 run late in the quarter to take a 31-8 advantage. Before time expired, Nubia Benedith hit a three to make it 31-11 after one.
In the second, the teams traded baskets but with the score at 36-19, North Florida went without a point for more than three minutes. The Ospreys shot just 2-for-11 down the stretch as the Gators led 45-24 at the half.
Florida once again used a 13-2 stretch to start the third to eventually take its biggest lead of the game, 65-32 with 3:08 to play.
North Florida had its own 12-4 run to close with 25 in the third and used another 8-0 run early in the fourth to close within 23. It was the closest the Ospreys got for the remainder of the game as the Gators had already built up their 20-point lead and never looked back.

Osprey Fast Breaks

Freshman Elise Harden had a season-best eight points, while Ally Knights scored her first points of the season for UNF with a three-pointer in the fourth quarter.
Summah Evans also chipped in eight points in her 19 minutes of play.
Florida outrebounded UNF 61-36 including 31 offensive boards leading to 32 second chance points.
North Florida struggled from long range, hitting a season-low five and shooting just 22 percent behind the arc.
The Ospreys had a season-low 12 turnovers.

What's Next
North Florida takes some time off for the break before heading into ASUN play with Stetson at home on January 2 and 3. Games are set for 2 p.m. at UNF Arena.