University of North Florida
HOFSTRA
UNF falls in home opener
12/29/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Dec. 29, 2006
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The
University of North Florida women's basketball team
ran into foul trouble early and received no points
from its bench in a 63-41 loss to Hofstra Friday at
UNF Arena.
The loss was the first ever for the Lady Ospreys (2-
9) in a home opener. Hofstra (10-1), meanwhile,
extended its winning streak to nine games.
The Lady Ospreys managed to hold Hofstra under its
season average of 71.4 points a game, but failed to
take advantage of opportunities at the free throw
line, hitting 15-of-30 shots from the charity stripe.
UNF point guard Shandrea Moore led the Lady
Ospreys with 11 points, while Shennette Sheffield,
Tamara Hubbard and Jennifer Bowen followed her
with nine points apiece. Bowen finished the game 4-
of-7 from the field and saw her string of four-straight
games in double-digit points come to an end.
Lizanne Murphy and Cigi McCollin led the Pride with
15 points apiece. Vanessa Gidden finished the
contest one point and one rebound shy of a double-
double. She finished tied with UNF's Jennifer Guldager
with a game high nine rebounds.
The Lady Ospreys foul trouble started early, as three
starters picked up offensive fouls in the first five
minutes of play. Sheffield, Moore and Willonda
Windham each had two fouls in the first 12 minutes
of play for the Lady Ospreys, allowing the Pride to
close the opening half on a 21-7 run and to take a
30-13 lead into the locker room.
Hofstra had a 23-17 edge in rebounds during the
opening half, but could not hold that advantage, as
the teams finished the game with 39 rebounds
apiece.
The foul situation began to turn around in the second
half with Hofstra picking up the first seven fouls of
the frame. UNF couldn't take advantage from the
line, however, missing 12 shots from the free throw
line in the second half.
By way of contrast, Hofstra was 16-of-20 from the
foul line.
UNF pulled as close as 11 in the second half, but
couldn't get any closer after McCollin hit back-to-
back 3-pointers to give Hofstra a 40-23 advantage
and all but seal the win.
The Lady Ospreys turned the ball over 30 times in
the contest, compared to 15 for Hofstra. Sheffield
led UNF with two blocks, while Vanessa Gidden also
had a pair for Hofstra.
UNF returns to conference play on Jan. 4 when it
hosts Campbell at 5:30 p.m. The game can be seen
on a tape delayed basis on Jan. 5 on CSS-TV.
