JACKSONVILLE - North Florida women's basketball was led by a trio of 20-point scorers in Jazz Bond, Marissa Mackins and Rhetta Moore as the Ospreys won their home opener, 84-66, against FIU on Thursday evening. The Ospreys have now won six straight home openers.
 

Ospreys of the Game

• Mackins | 23 pts, 7-for-12 FG, 8 ast
• Bond | 21 points, 12 rebounds, 2 blocks
  • Bond became the UNF career block leader with 148 when she swatted an FIU lay up with 19 seconds to play
• Moore | 20 pts, 6 rebound, 4 ast

Turning Point

North Florida used an 11-0 run to start the third quarter to take a 49-37 lead which was its biggest of the game to that point. Nubia Benedith scored five of her nine points during the stretch.

QUOTE FROM THE TOP

"This was a great win for this group! It was really nice to see them respond. As we continue to figure out how we need to play to maximize our success we will continue to get better. We shot the ball really well and defended a little bit better tonight. The sky is the limit for this group if we continue to work!." - head coach Darrick Gibbs
 

INSIDE THE GAME

• North Florida had a slight 16-14 lead at the first media timeout and the teams continue to trade baskets as the quarter closed with the Ospreys owning a 23-20 lead. 
• In the second, FIU used a 10-2 run to tie the game at 35, but that was as close as the visitors would get as Mackins hit a triple to put UNF out front where it remained for the game.
• The 11-0 run to open the third quarter gave UNF its biggest lead of the game to that point as FIU was 0-for-4 from the floor and committed four turnovers.
• After trading baskets, FIU then went on a 7-0 spurt and eventually a 9-3 run to close within 56-51, but Mackins closed out the quarter with a three-point play to give the Ospreys a 59-51 lead after three.
• In the start of the fourth, the Panthers used back-to-back buckets to pull within four and force an Osprey timeout. North Florida then outscored 23-9 to close out the game and secure the win.

 

Osprey Fast Breaks

• This was all three of the leading scorers second time scoring 20 or more points this season. It is the first time under coach Darrick Gibbs that three players reached 20 or more points.
• For the first time this season, a player reached double figures in rebounding as Bond recorded a double-double with 12 rebounds.
• UNF shot a season-best 51.7 percent from the field and hit 54 percent from long range. 
• The Ospreys owned an edge off the glass for the first time this season, 39-37. 
• Despite UNF having a season-high 25 turnovers, they capitalized for more points on FAU's 21 miscues. 
• North Florida out scored FIU in three of four quarters including a 25-15 advantage in the final frame. 
• This is the third straight win against FIU for the Ospreys.

What's Next
North Florida now has a little more than a week to prepare for Edward Waters (December 13) before closing out 2020 with a pair of games against SEC foes in Auburn and Florida.