WOMEN'S COLLEGE BASKETBALL: UNF bounces back with 77-67 win over Lipscomb

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Seven first-half treys and three players in double digits powered the University of North Florida women's basketball team to a 77-67 Atlantic Sun victory over Lipscomb on Wednesday night at UNF Arena.

Brittany Kirkland notched her second 20-point game in three contests with a game-high 21 points. Jadhken Kerr, who was 4-for-6 from three point range, added a season-best 18 points, while Octavia Langston chipped in with 10. Larkira Jones grabbed a game-best 11 rebounds.

Anna Bowers led a trio of Lady Bison with 15 points. Hannah Phillips scored 14 with Sasha Robinson adding 12. Erika Thornsberry pulled down a team-best six boards.

UNF shot 46.3 percent for the night, going 25-for-54. The Ospreys won the battle of the boards as they grabbed 38 rebounds compared to Lipscomb's 28.

Lipscomb shot 49.1 percent (26-for-53) for the game, including 61.1 percent (11-for-18) in the first half.

UNF got 40 first half points for the first time this season with 21 of those coming from long range. Both teams battled for control of the game for the first eight minutes with four ties occurring during that time. With the score tied 18-18, a foul shot by Kim Baker was the first of a 13-point run for the Ospreys. The run was capped when Destinee Smith hit a three at 7:48 to make it a 31-18 game. Although, Lipscomb answered with an 11-1 run to pull to within three, UNF had an 11-1 run of its own to close out the half with 43-30 advantage.

Lipscomb came out with a 16-2 run to start the second half and take a 46-45 lead at 14:16. However, UNF responded with a 17-5 spurt to regain a significant lead. A jumper from Kerr at 7:15 capped the run and put the Ospreys ahead 63-51. UNF pushed its lead to 15 before Lipscomb attempted to rally. The Lady Bison pulled to within six four times, including at 33 seconds with a Robinson foul shot. But both Megan Peterson and Kerr sank a pair of foul shots down the stretch as UNF held on for a 10-point victory.

The Ospreys are on the road for two-straight games. UNF begins the trip at conference leader Florida Gulf Coast on Saturday. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m., at Alico Arena.