Waldon Ties Career-High, North Florida Falls In Season Opener At Florida

Monday, November 3

Gainesville, Fla. / Exactech Arena

7 p.m.

University of North Florida

0-1,0-0ASUN

Florida

1-0,0-0SEC

Team	1	2	3	4	F
North Florida	12	15	19	16	62
Florida	18	29	32	17	96

2025-26 North Florida Women's Basketball - Alonya Waldon

Waldon Ties Career-High, North Florida Falls In Season Opener At Florida

11/3/2025 9:30:00 PM | Women's Basketball

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GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Junior guard Alonya Waldon tied a career-high 19 points in her Ospreys debut, but North Florida dropped a hard-fought season opener at Florida, 96-62, inside Exactech Arena at Stephen C. O'Connell Center on Monday night.

Waldon posted her team-high point total on 6-9 from the field, 2-3 from three and 5-5 from the free-throw line, in addition to two assists in 19 minutes. It marked the 12th game of her career with 10 or more points.

North Florida raced out to an 8-3 lead at the 6:20-minute mark of the first quarter and forced four turnovers in the initial four minutes. Waldon was responsible for all eight points with six points and an assist.

Freshman guard Jamison Cardwell, guard Soraya Ogaldez, guard Megan Verbeeten, guard Abby Knauff and forward Dezuray McGill all made their collegiate debuts and scored in the game.

North Florida maintained a one-possession lead at the first-quarter media timeout, but Florida used a quick run to reclaim the lead. Ogaldez beat the first-quarter buzzer with a tough finish inside to cut the deficit to 18-12 after 10 minutes of action.

Ogaldez recorded her first game with 10 or more points with 11 points on 4-7 from the field and 3-4 from the free-throw line in 14 minutes.

Verbeeten led the way in the second quarter with five points. Florida extended its lead to 47-27 at the halftime break.

North Florida went on an 8-0 run in a stretch of 1:10 minutes in the third quarter to cut into the deficit, but Florida extended its lead to 69-46 entering the fourth quarter. North Florida connected on its final four field goals and closed the game on a 7-0 run in the final 1:58 minutes of action to reach the eventual final margin.

North Florida outscored Florida 31-16 in bench points and led for 4:52 minutes in the game. Overall, 12 Ospreys logged minutes and nine scored.

North Florida returns to action when it hosts Palm Beach Atlantic for its Education Day game inside UNF Arena on Wednesday, Nov. 5 at 11 a.m. on ESPN+.