NASHVILLE – The Lipscomb University women's basketball team started Atlantic Sun Conference play with a 76-53 rout over the University of North Florida, Thursday evening inside Allen Arena.

Final Score: Lipscomb 76, North Florida 53
Location: Allen Arena
Records: Lipscomb (8-4, 1-0), North Florida (4-10, 0-1)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Bisons got out to a hot start, scoring nine of their first 11 points off of Osprey turnovers, capped by a Molly Heard 3-point play.

The home team opened the game converting nine of their first 10 shots from the field, and finished 13-of-20 in the first 10 minutes to lead 28-16 through the first 10 minutes of play.

Lipscomb played strong defense in the second quarter, holding the Ospreys to just three points, including a near nine-minute drought. Despite the bucket, the Bisons scored the final six points to lead by 30, 49-19 at the break. 

In the second stanza, the Bisons shot 10-of-16 from the floor for 21 points, while the Ospreys were held to 1-of-11. 

Lipscomb kept the 30-point lead through three quarters of play, led by Molly Heard's seven points. 

KEY STATISTICS
It was the second straight game where the Bisons had eight of its 10 players in the point column, led by Molly Heard with 19 on 7-of-10 shooting, 

Off the bench, Taylor Bowen made it back-to-back double-digit performances on Thursday with 13 points on a perfect 6-of-6 and added seven rebounds. 

Claira McGowan posted 12 points and three dimes, while Ainhoa Cea added 10 points, a career-high five steals and dished out three assists. 

HERD NOTES
Lipscomb's 2024-25 team added another record to the list of achievements on Thursday. North Florida's three points in the second stanza marked the fewest points scored by an opponent in a quarter. 

Since quarters were established in 2015-16, the previous low of four was set five times, most recently against Jacksonville in 2021. 

Averaging 31 points in the paint in non-conference action, Lipscomb dropped 56 points versus UNF on Thursday. All 28 field goals inside the arc were in the paint, as they went 28-of-43 (65%). 

UP NEXT
The home stand concludes on Saturday afternoon with a matinee matchup with Eastern Kentucky at 2 p.m.