University of North Florida
CHARLESTON (WV)
UNF drops game to Charleston at Bahamas Sunshine Shootout
2/14/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
NASSAU, Bahamas (Dec. 20, 2004) - The University of North Florida women's basketball team traveled to this week's Bahamas Sunshine Shootout hoping to find both warm weather and an end to its early season losing skid.
Thus far, the Lady Ospreys have done neither.
Amid unusually cool temperatures in the Caribbean islands, UNF returned to the court on Monday night against Charleston (W.Va.) but couldn't snap out of a shooting slump or a propensity for turning over the basketball in losing 69-39 in the tournament's opening round at the Isaacs National Gymnasium.
UNF (5-3) committed 30 turnovers, including 20 in a decisive first half, and shot just 29 percent in dropping its third straight game. Charleston (8-2) shot 46 percent and got strong performances from Lisa Lee and Courtney Thomas, who scored 16 points each to lead all scorers.
Karli Knudsen and Brittney Davis scored eight points apiece for UNF.
"We are not playing very well right now," UNF head coach Mary Tappmeyer said. "We are not being very smart, and we have to get better fast. Our conference season starts in three games."
For the third consecutive game, the Lady Ospreys fell behind early and couldn't rally to overcome a sizable halftime deficit. Against Charleston, UNF trailed 14-3 after five minutes and 25-9 with 8:19 to play. Charleston led 36-17 at halftime, with 25 of its points coming from UNF turnovers.
In the second half, Charleston continued to double-team Davis inside, and the Lady Ospreys couldn't respond from the perimeter to get back into the game. UNF hit just 4-of-19 shots from 3-point range and faltered down the stretch. Charleston led by 32 in the waning minutes, its biggest lead of the game.
UNF did outrebound the Eagles, 40-36.
The Lady Ospreys will return to action at 5 p.m. on Tuesday against Bryan (Tenn.) College in the tournament's consolation game. Charleston will play Concordia (Texas) in the championship game at 7 p.m.
