In its first year as a Division I program, the women’s basketball team clinched a spot in the ASUN conference tournament Feb. 9 after beating the North Florida Ospreys 77-62. The Lions have a (17-3) overall record and an (8-2) conference record in the ASUN with both losses coming from top-seeded Florida Gulf Coast University.

The only other team to clinch a spot in the tournament is FGCU. Eight teams will qualify for the ASUN conference tournament.

Junior guard Ivy Wallen dished out 10 assists and 31 points in the win against the Ospreys. This welcomed her into the top 5 all-time scoring list for the university’s program.

This is the second straight game with 30 plus points for Wallen at home.

While Wallen poured 31 points in against North Florida, guard Savannah Stults added a perfect game from the field going 3-3 from three-point range and ended the game with 13 points. Guard Emma Wallen added 11 points and guard Ansley Eubanks scored 10 in the Lions’ victory.

Wallen and company hit their stride with a 10-2 run in the second quarter to make it 34-20 for the Lions’ first double-digit lead of the game. The Ospreys answered with seven points before the half to cut the score to 35-27 in favor of the Lions.

North Florida made headway in the second half. Savannah Stults made a three-pointer that sparked a 17-point run for the Lions. During the run, she made another three-pointer and a pair of free throws to make the lead 57-46.

The Lions held a 63-57 lead with just over four minutes left before they started a 9-2 run to end the game with a win.

The ASUN tournament is scheduled for Friday, March 8 through Sunday, March 17. The Lions will head into the tournament cemented as the number two seed in the tournament.