The University of North Florida women’s basketball team opened its 2026-27 season with a 74-63 loss to Florida State on Nov. 5 at the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center in Tallahassee, Fla. North Florida held a 43-27 halftime lead before Florida State rallied in the second half. North Florida was listed at 0-1 after the game, while Florida State was listed at 2-0.
Dezuray McGill led North Florida with 16 points on 7-of-13 shooting from the field and added five rebounds. Jamisyn Stinson scored 14 points and pulled down a team-high seven rebounds, while Alexa Washington added 11 points and three assists. Stinson made three 3-pointers and five of six free-throw attempts, and Washington connected on three 3-pointers.
Belle Ratliff contributed seven points, four rebounds, three assists and two blocks in her first collegiate game. Brianna Mead scored six points and recorded a team-high five assists in her North Florida debut. The performances gave North Florida production from two players making their first appearances for the program.
North Florida builds halftime lead before Florida State rallies
Florida State held a 19-18 lead after the opening quarter, but North Florida took control in the second period. The Ospreys outscored Florida State 25-8 in the quarter and carried a 43-27 advantage into halftime. That 16-point lead marked North Florida’s strongest stretch of the game.
Florida State answered with a 26-12 third quarter to cut North Florida’s lead to 55-53 entering the fourth period. The Seminoles then outscored North Florida 21-8 in the final quarter to complete the comeback. North Florida shot 35% from the field and 30% from 3-point range while making nine 3-pointers.
North Florida recorded 18 assists on 22 made field goals and converted 10 of 12 free-throw attempts for an 83% mark at the line. McGill’s 16 points led the scoring, while Stinson’s seven rebounds and Mead’s five assists led the team in those categories. North Florida will next host Palm Beach Atlantic on Saturday, Nov. 7, at 12:30 p.m. at UNF Arena.
FSB Take
North Florida showed it could create a substantial lead by combining a 25-point second quarter with efficient ball movement and free-throw shooting. The second-half response from Florida State exposed the challenge of sustaining that advantage after halftime, as the Seminoles erased the deficit across the final two quarters. The Palm Beach Atlantic game gives North Florida its first home opportunity to build on the contributions from McGill, Stinson, Washington, Ratliff and Mead.
Source: Original report