CONWAY, Ark. - North Florida women's basketball battled down the stretch of the game after facing a 21-point halftime deficit to trail by single digits in the closing minutes of action. Ultimately, Central Arkansas held off the Ospreys, 67-53, on Tuesday evening at the Farris Center.
Senior guard
Jazmine Spencer was sensational in her efforts, finishing with a team-high 19 points while grabbing seven rebounds and three steals. Senior guard
Kaila Rougier and junior guard
Helena Rafnsdottir followed Spencer's marks with 20 points combined. Rougier recorded 11 points and a 3-for-8 performance from three, while Rafnsdottir finished with nine.
UCA 67, UNF 53
RECORDS
North Florida | 4-13, 0-4 ASUN
Central Arkansas | 10-6, 5-1 ASUN
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
First Half: North Florida came out firing and the Ospreys narrowly trailed 11-8 with freshman forward
Jasmynne Gibson scoring the first two baskets...Central Arkansas answered with a 6-2 run and held a 17-10 lead at the end of the first quarter…senior guard
Jazmine Spencer scored a driving and-one layup that cut UCA's lead to 22-19 in the second quarter, but the Sugar Bears answered with a 7-of-8 shooting stretch from the field to take a 41-20 lead into halftime...the Ospreys were 2-for-5 from three in the second quarter after an 0-for-3 start from the arc in the first.
Second Half: Central Arkansas held a 46-24 lead with 5:40 remaining until Spencer snagged a steal and finished a layup at the other end to cut UCA's advantage to 20...there were no signs of quit from the Ospreys who used a 13-3 run with seven of those points coming from Rougier to close out the third period to trail 49-36 entering the fourth...UNF was down just eight points with 4:26 left in the game, but a solid finish at the free throw line from Central Arkansas sealed the game, 67-53, with a road defeat.
LEADERS BY THE NUMBERS
UNF
Jazmine Spencer | 19 points, 7 rebounds, 3 steals
Kaila Rougier | 11 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists
Helena Rafnsdottir | 9 points, 4 rebounds
Jasmynne Gibson | 6 points, 9 rebounds
Sarah Taub | 5 points, 4 rebounds
Central Arkansas
Leah Mafua | 24 points, 12 rebounds, 4 assists
Elizabeth Abiara | 12 points, 13 rebounds
Kinley Fisher | 11 points, 8 rebounds
Jade Upshaw | 11 points, 2 steals
Cheyanne Kemp | 5 points
NOTES
- Spencer earned her 10th game in double figures and fourth game with at least 17 points.
- The senior also notched her sixth performance of the year with at least three steals.
- Gibson continues to crash the boards leading the team with nine rebounds.
- The freshman earned at least eight boards for the sixth time in seven games played.
- UNF held UCA to 8 points in third quarter.
UP NEXT
North Florida remains on the road and will look to bounce back in Florence, Ala., against North Alabama on Jan. 18. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m., inside CB&S Bank Arena at Flowers Hall.
