JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — North Florida took command in the second half in defeating the Bellarmine University women's basketball team 85-63 in ASUN action Wednesday at UNF Arena.

Bellarmine (3-19, 0-11 ASUN) was within six of North Florida (11-12, 4-7) at halftime, but the Ospreys' hot shooting from long range in the third quarter created a comfortable separation that lasted through the last period. North Florida outscored the Knights 49-33 in the second half.

Jaela Johnson poured in a game- and career-high 26 points for Bellarmine, which has posted three of its highest-scoring performances in ASUN play over the last four games. The junior guard buried four 3-pointers and sank eight of her 10 free-throw attempts while adding four assists. Sophomore guard Mackenzie Keelin registered her second double-double in the last three games with 12 points and a career-high 13 rebounds.

"Mackenzie is very quick to the ball. She blocks out and goes and gets it," Knights Coach Chancellor Dugan said. "Jaela made some really good shots today. If we keep working the offense and sharing the ball, I think we're sitting on a win."

Sophomore guard Claire Knies pulled down a career-high nine rebounds for Bellarmine, which trailed just 20-18 after the first quarter and 36-30 at halftime. Unfortunately, Jaida Bond got red hot from 3-pont range in the third period, sinking three from deep while her teammates added two more from long range as North Florida outscored the Knights 23-14 in the stanza to build a 59-44 advantage.

The Ospreys didn't cool off in the fourth, scoring 26 more points en route to the victory. Bond led four Ospreys in double figures with 18 points. Her sister Jazz had 15 points behind three 3-pointers, Rhetta Moore tallied 16 points and Emma Broermann chipped in 13.

Despite only eight available players, shorthanded Bellarmine led the rebounding battle after each of the first three quarters, but North Florida finished with a 41-36 edge.

"I was so proud of them at halftime," Dugan said. "We limited them to one offensive rebound. We just couldn't sustain it. They had two offensive rebounds in the first three minutes of the second half.

"I think the eight players that were here played their tails off. It's been very difficult to build any kind of rhythm. We have not had a full squad out there all year long."

Bellarmine will play at 2 p.m. (ET) Saturday at North Alabama.

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