JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The Stetson University women's basketball team opened up conference play with a 61-57 win over the North Florida Ospreys on Thursday night at the UNF Arena in Jacksonville.

Jaelyn Talley led the Hatters with a solid performance, scoring 16 points on an efficient 7-of-11 shooting and grabbing seven rebounds. This contributed to the Hatters' success as they secured their fourth win in the last five games, extending their current win streak to three.

Quentarra Mitchell, coming off the bench, and Jamiya Turner both reached double figures, with Mitchell tallying 15 points and Turner adding 10 to the team's scoring efforts.

"Our kids played really hard, I thought our defense in the first half was the best that we have played all year," said Head Coach Lynn Bria. "So happy for our team to get a tough road win."

North Florida started the game with a 5-0 run, but the Hatters quickly responded with a 6-0 stretch of their own.

Despite a low-scoring first quarter, Stetson found themselves trailing 11-10 at the game's outset. Five different Hatters contributed with a basket, showcasing balanced scoring, including four of the five starters making their mark on the scoreboard.

The Hatters began the second quarter with a 9-0 run, with seven of those points coming from Talley. During this stretch, the sophomore forward displayed her skills by also grabbing three rebounds, two of which were on the offensive end.

Despite a quick response from the Ospreys with five points, Stetson finished the quarter on a strong note, going on another 9-0 run. The quarter concluded with a three-pointer from Khamya McNeal, solidifying the Hatters' control of the first half.

Stetson stifled the Ospreys in the second quarter, holding them to just five points, a mark tied for the lowest allowed in a quarter all season. The Hatters' defensive prowess limited North Florida to a mere 2-of-13 shooting during this period.

Entering halftime with a comfortable 12-point lead, the Hatters, led by freshman Diawna Carter-Hartley and Talley, extended their advantage to as many as 14 points in the third quarter. However, the Ospreys mounted a comeback with a 16-5 run, narrowing the gap in the game.

Turner's pair of layups, along with a free throw from Skylar Treadwell,, contributed to Stetson's points.

Despite a jumper in the paint from Mitchell, North Florida managed to reclaim the lead after connecting on a pair of three-pointers with two minutes remaining in the third quarter. However, this lead was short-lived, as McNeal's layup swiftly restored the Hatters to the front.

In the closing minutes, Mitchell and the Ospreys exchanged baskets, but Stetson maintained a slim lead of 43-42 heading into the final quarter.

The last quarter commenced with a closely contested start, featuring contributions from three different Hatters. Notably, Carter-Hartley, in her first collegiate start, scored once again.

Stetson extended its lead to six points with a 7-2 run, featuring scoring contributions from Turner, Talley, and Promise Keshi—the latter netting her first and only basket of the game. Talley notably added three points to the stretch, completing a successful and-1 opportunity.

Following a pair of shots from North Florida, Mitchell scored in the paint with a minute and 30 seconds remaining, giving the Hatters a four-point lead. However, the Ospreys responded with a three-pointer, narrowing the gap to just one point.

In the closing seconds, Mitchell went to the line and successfully made the first free throw but missed the second. Fortunately, Turner seized the offensive rebound.

Despite the initial free throw misses, the Hatters displayed resilience by securing another crucial offensive rebound, with Mitchell getting another chance. She capitalized on the opportunity, burying both shots and securing the win for Stetson.

As a team, Stetson shot 45.5 percent from the field, going 25-of-55 while hitting 10 of their 19 attempts at the line.

The Hatters asserted their dominance in the paint, outrebounding the Ospreys 37-32 and outscoring them 46-18 in the low post. Turner demonstrated prowess on the boards, securing eight rebounds, while Talley and Mitchell each contributed with seven rebounds apiece.

Defensively, Stetson exhibited a strong presence with a season-high six blocks, led by Carter-Hartley who tallied two. The team also recorded eight steals, with seven different players contributing, including Treadwell, who led the unit with a pair of steals.

Stetson, now 6-9 on the season, will stay on the road in the River City as they take on the Jacksonville Dolphins on Saturday. Tip-off for that game is scheduled for 2:00 PM at the Swisher Gymnasium with all the action on ESPN+.

 About Stetson University Athletics: Stetson University's Athletics Program is driven by a shared purpose. It is what inspires, motivates and binds us together. More than a task, a reason for being. THE HATTER PURPOSE is to create and provide an experience of a lifetime through teamwork and relationships to achieve excellence. This purpose is achieved through five Core Values: Communication, Integrity, Excellence, Value People and Commitment. To learn more about the HATS program and our Core Values, visit GoHatters.com/HATS.

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