The Northern Kentucky women’s basketball team dropped a road contest at former Atlantic Sun opponent North Florida in the first game of the UNF Holiday Classic, 58-50. With the setback, NKU dips to 1-8 while the Ospreys advance to 6-6.
STAT LEADERS
Samari Mowbray paced the Norse with 12 points and added two steals. She hit two 3-pointers in a single game for the first time in her career.
Molly Glick added 10 points and a team-best three assists.
Kailey Coffey was the third Norse to register double-digit points, with 10, and had seven rebounds along with a block and a steal.
Grace White was just short of double figures with nine points, along with seven rebounds and two steals.
FIRST HALF SUMMARY
NKU used 4-of-7 shooting from long range to take a 16-9 lead after the first quarter. Mowbray opened up scoring for the Norse with back-to-back triples to give NKU an early lead that would not be relinquished in the frame.
Mikayla Terry and White also added a triple apiece.
The Norse shot 42.9 percent in the first quarter while holding the Ospreys to just 25.0 percent. However, UNF improved in the second quarter, shooting 46.2 percent and outscoring the Norse 14-11 as NKU held a four-point lead at halftime, 27-23.
During the second quarter, Glick ended a run of 14 consecutive free throws made, dating back to the Nov. 25 game against Oakland City.
Turnovers kept the Ospreys in contention, with nine points off of 13 Norse miscues, eight of which came by way of steals.
The Norse held a staunch advantage on the boards, out-rebounding the Ospreys 24-11, including just one offensive rebound for UNF.
SECOND HALF SUMMARY
North Florida’s full-court press got the better of the Norse in the second half as the Ospreys swiped nine more steals and forced an additional 14 miscues.
UNF also scored 14 points off turnovers.
Glick led the Norse in scoring in the half, with seven points.
The game started to slip away in the third as UNF outscored the Norse by 10, 21-11.
NKU battled hard in the fourth but was unable to overcome the deficit, eventually falling by eight.
NORSE NOTES
The series with UNF falls to 4-3 in favor of the Norse. The Ospreys have won three of the four meetings in Jacksonville.
NKU surrendered a season-high 27 turnovers, while the 17 steals by UNF also marked the most by an opponent this year. Overall, UNF scored 23 points off turnovers.
The Norse continued their strong rebounding, holding a 38-26 edge over the Ospreys.
UNF had a slight edge in the paint, outscoring the Norse 28-24 down low.
NKU’s shooting percentage dropped with each quarter, and the Norse finished the game at 38.0 percent. Meanwhile, the Ospreys steadily built their efficiency, finishing at a .400 clip.
UP NEXT
NKU closes out the UNF Holiday Classic tomorrow at noon, when the Norse face Jacksonville. The Dolphins recorded a 20-point win over Edward Waters in their first game of the tournament.
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Chloe Smith
Assistant Athletic Communications Director
Northern Kentucky University
