LOUISVILLE, Ky. — North Florida's offense locked in late to fend off an upset bid by the Bellarmine University women's basketball team, as the Ospreys edged the Knights 76-73 Friday night in ASUN action in Freedom Hall.

With a little under six minutes left in regulation, Bellarmine (5-15, 5-10 ASUN) held a 58-57 lead over UNA (12-10, 10-5) after junior guard Bailey Harney converted an old-fashioned three-point play.

North Florida, which is in third place in the ASUN, followed by scoring at least one point on nine straight possessions. Jazz Bond hit four consecutive free throws to give the Ospreys a 74-67 lead with 27 seconds left.

Bellarmine scored twice in the final 10 seconds on a basket by senior forward Lauren Deel and a steal and layup by freshman guard Hannah Farrell to cut the deficit to 75-73. Marissa Mackins, who scored a game-high 23 points, followed by hitting the first of two free throws while missing the second. The Ospreys secured the win after the Knights' halfcourt heave was no good.

"I thought we played not to win, I thought we played a little scared," Knights Coach Chancellor Dugan said of the fourth quarter. "We didn't attack the rim."

Senior guard Tasia Jeffries sank four 3-pointers and scored a team-high 18 points for Bellarmine, which hosted its annual Pink Game honoring those impacted by breast cancer. Senior guard Breia Torrens added 14 points and Deel chipped in 13. Harney grabbed a career-high eight rebounds.

North Florida shot 50.9 percent to the 39.7 of Bellarmine, but the Knights' relentlessness on the offensive glass — 16 offensive boards — and low turnover number (just eight) helped allow BU to accumulate 16 more shots than the Ospreys. Bellarmine had a 14-2 advantage in second-chance points.

"We did a great job rebounding tonight," Dugan said.

Bellarmine led 24-18 after the first quarter and pushed its advantage to nine in the second before leading 36-32 at the break. The Knights entered the fourth with a 52-50 edge.

Bellarmine will host North Florida again at 5 p.m. (ET) Saturday and celebrate Senior Day. The game will be broadcast on ESPN3.

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