University of North Florida
Augusta State
Last-second shot gives Augusta State a 49-47 win over UNF
2/14/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
AUGUSTA, Ga. (Jan. 15, 2005) - The University of North Florida women's basketball team appeared poised to snap out of its season-long losing streak on Saturday afternoon, and in the process make its frustrating start to Peach Belt Conference play a distant memory.
Once again, fate proved cruel.
Following a controversial offensive foul call against UNF with 23 seconds remaining, Augusta State's Andrea McCurry hit a running jumper with a second to go on the other end of the floor to lift the Lady Jaguars to a 49-47 win over UNF at the Christenberry Fieldhouse.
The loss was UNF's sixth straight and dropped the Lady Ospreys to 0-4 in Peach Belt play for the first time in school history. UNF is 6-9 overall.
"The one shooter we knew couldn't leave open (Brandi Hollingsworth), we left open twice in the final two minutes," UNF head coach Mary Tappmeyer said. "Our mental miscues really cost us down the stretch."
The Lady Ospreys shot 35 percent for the game and outrebounded Augusta State (9-6, 3-1 PBC) 37-33 but once again fell victim to a long second-half scoring drought and untimely turnovers. UNF finished with 20 turnovers for the game, including two in the final two minutes - both on controversial offensive foul calls.
UNF overcame an early 12-point deficit and trailed 28-23 at halftime. A quick 11-0 run to open the second half erased that, but the Lady Ospreys didn't score for more than 10 minutes after that to allow the Lady Jaguars back into the game. Neither team could find an offensive rhythm until the furious final three minutes.
UNF's Karli Knudsen and Alana Mountfield each sank a pair of baskets to push the Lady Ospreys back in front, but Hollingsworth answered with a pair of 3-pointers on the other end for Augusta State, the last with 46 seconds remaining to forge the game's final tie at 47. The Lady Ospreys had a chance to retake the lead after that, but UNF senior center Brittney Davis was called for an offensive foul while dribbling towards the basket with 23 seconds remaining.
McCurry ended the game a short time later.
Mountfield scored 12 points to lead UNF, while Knudsen added nine points. McCurry scored 12 points to lead Augusta State, which shot 35 percent for the game.
The Lady Ospreys return to action on Wednesday when they travel to face Georgia College & State in Milledgeville. Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m. The game will be broadcast on WIOJ-AM 1010, joining the game in progress at 6 p.m.
