North Florida overcame a 17-point deficit in the second half, then connected on a three-point shot at the buzzer to down the University of North Alabama women's basketball team 80-77 Sunday afternoon at Flowers Hall. The second straight loss to the Ospreys gives UNA a 5-12 overall record, including a 4-4 mark in ASUN Conference play.
UNF, which erased a 53-36 third-quarter deficit, led 77-74 in the closing seconds. The Lions were able to tie the game on a three-pointer by Alexis Callins with 13.7 seconds to play. The Ospreys called a timeout to set up the final play. Bond, who finished with a career-high 35 points, took a pass from Marissa Mackins and connected from the left wing as time expired.
UNA led throughout most of the contest, taking a 22-15 lead at the end of the first quarter and a 42-31 advantage at the half.
The largest lead came at the 6:54 mark of the third quarter when a three-pointer by UNA's Jaida Bond gave the Lions the 17-point lead. The two Bond sisters continued to battle down the stretch. Jazz scored 13 points in the third quarter alone as the Ospreys closed the period on an 11-0 run. A jumper by Mackins made the score 61-59 heading into the fourth quarter.
A basket by Jazz Bond early in the final period gave UNF its first lead since early in the game at 65-63. The game featured four more ties and three more lead changes down the stretch.
UNA led 72-66 with 3:33 remaining after a trey by Callins. The freshman from Martin, Tenn., scored the final 11 points of the game for the Lions. After the visitors grabbed a 75-72 lead in the final minute of play, her two free throws cut the deficit to a single point with 34.6 seconds remaining.
North Florida answered with two free throws of their own to regain a three-point advantage and set the stage for Callins' game-tying trey from the top of the key.
North Alabama's Bond tied a career-high with 26 points. The sophomore from Murfreesboro, Tenn., was 10-of-18 from the floor, including six three-pointers. Callins also had a career-high 19 points while Jaila Roberts just missed a triple-double with 10 points, 12 assists and eight rebounds. Sakyia White added nine points and 10 rebounds for the Lions.