University of North Florida
6-10,1-4ASUN
North Alabama
7-9,2-3ASUN
Three Ospreys Score Double Figures, Women's Basketball Falls To North Alabama
1/15/2026 9:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – North Florida Women's Basketball showed relentless fight, but fell against North Alabama, 56-54, inside UNF Arena on Thursday.
A trio of Ospreys finished with double-digit scoring marks, with junior guard Alonya Waldon leading the way with a team-high 12 points. Junior guard Elle Blatchford and freshman guard Jamison Cardwell added 11 points and 10, respectively.
Waldon notched a pair of sensational and-one layups to tie the score at nine apiece midway through the first quarter. North Florida captured its first lead of the game, 13-12, following a three-pointer off the bench by sophomore guard Jamisyn Stinson with 3:59 remaining in the first quarter.
After 10 minutes of action, North Alabama held a 19-12 advantage. The Ospreys forced five turnovers by UNA in the first quarter and notched four offensive rebounds to its two.
Five straight points from Waldon to start the second quarter opened the door for a 9-0 run by UNF. North Florida's surge was capped off by a fastbreak layup from Cardwell that saw the Ospreys lead 21-19 at the 6:32 mark of the second quarter.
In a first half that featured three ties and four lead changes, North Alabama commanded a 32-28 lead headed into halftime despite North Florida out-scoring the Lions 16-13 in the second quarter. North Florida was aggressive on the glass in the opening 20 minutes, out-rebounding UNA 20-17.Â
In the first half of play, Waldon posted a team-high 10 points on 4-for-9 from the field and 1-for-3 from beyond the arc, in addition to one steal in 16 minutes of action.
North Florida cut the deficit to just two in the opening minute of the second half with a layup by freshman forward Dezuray McGill. However, North Alabama's lead grew as large as 11 in the third quarter. Blatchford scored six of UNF's last seven points in the third quarter, though UNA possessed a 49-41 edge at the end of the period.
Trailing by eight entering the fourth quarter, North Florida showed relentless fight with a 9-2 run that featured three free throws and a three-pointer by Cardwell to help UNF narrowly trail 51-50 with 5:03 left in regulation. From there, Waldon buried a pair of free throws to put UNF ahead by one with just over four minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.
A pair of free throws and a made layup by North Alabama helped the Lions regain a three-point advantage with 1:33 left in regulation. North Florida cut it back to one with two free throws by Stinson, though that's as close as the margin would get before the score went final.
In addition to 12 points, Waldon contributed four rebounds on 4-for-10 from the field and 3-for-4 from the charity stripe in 27 minutes. It marked Waldon's eighth game of the season and 19th career game with 10 or more points.
Redshirt sophomore guard Alexa Washington grabbed a career-high seven rebounds and distributed a career-best six assists.
For Blatchford, it marked her seventh game this season and 24th career game with at least ten points. She finished 5-for-7 from the field and 1-for-2 from three. For Cardwell, it was her second game with 10 points.Â
Overall, North Florida led North Alabama in rebounds, 38-32, fastbreak points, 13-3, bench points, 19-12 and steals, 11-8.
North Florida remains at UNF Arena to host Central Arkansas on Saturday, Jan. 17. Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. ET on ESPN+.
