University of North Florida
Lipscomb
Seniors fuel 65-54 win
2/25/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Feb. 25, 2006
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - A pair of North Florida seniors stole the show during the Lady Ospreys' 2005-06 home finale against Lipscomb on Saturday afternoon, making the squad's "Senior Day" an event to remember.
Jackie Beik scored 20 points and Karli Knudsen added 11 in leading the Lady Ospreys past the Lady Bisons 65-54 at UNF Arena. The win moved UNF to .500 in conference play and capped the squad's first Division I season with an 8-3 record at home.
The Lady Ospreys (11-15, 9-9 A-Sun) still have two road games remaining this season, but head coach Mary Tappmeyer said the team's only goal on Saturday was to finish the season strong at UNF Arena.
"Our goal was to send the seniors out in style," Tappmeyer said. "To finish 8-3 at home in our first year of Division I is big, especially since we were picked to finish last (in the A-Sun). That is a huge accomplishment for these seniors, and it something they can take with them and look back on. It was a great way to go out in the last game on your home floor."
Seniors Kayla Sheldon, Alana Mountfield, Beik and Knudsen all played in their final home game for the Lady Ospreys. That group delivered in dominating fashion over the first six minutes of the second half, fueling a 19-4 run that snapped a halftime tie and broke the game open.
Beik and Knudsen each scored eight points during the stretch - and Mountfield added her only bucket of the game - to push the Lady Ospreys up 46-31 with 14:05 to play. UNF led by as many as 19 points in the final 10 minutes before settling for the final margin.
UNF smothered Lipscomb (6-19, 5-13 A-Sun) defensively for most of the afternoon, holding the Lady Bisons to 28 percent shooting from the floor, while also forcing 18 turnovers. Lipscomb outrebounded UNF, 44-38, and shot 20 more free throws, but it wasn't enough to overcome a strong second half by the Lady Ospreys.
In the first half, the teams battled back and forth early. Lipscomb led 23-17 with 5:23 to play before an 8-2 UNF run tied the game just before halftime. The score was 27-27 at the intermission.
UNF shot 44 percent for the game and hit 9-of-18 shots from 3-point range.
Jillian Partin, Katie Beth Pate and Keirstin Head each scored nine points to lead the Lady Bisons.
UNF will close its inaugural Division I season with a pair of road conference games - at Stetson on Thursday and at Mercer next Saturday.
