University of North Florida
MERCER
Sheffield leads comeback win
2/24/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Feb. 24, 2007
MACON, Ga. - University of North Florida freshman Shennette Sheffield kissed a jumper off the glass with a minute to play then blocked a potential game-winning shot at the buzzer in a 43-42 UNF win against Mercer at the University Center.
The victory snapped a six-game losing streak for the Lady Ospreys (7-20, 6-10 A-Sun) and gave UNF a season sweep of Mercer (4-23, 3-13 A-Sun).
Mercer built an 11-point lead in the second half, but watched UNF continue to chip away at the advantage until Sheffield hit what turned out to be the game winner.
"I could hear coach [Mary] Tappmeyer in my head saying `follow through Sheff,"' Sheffield said of the shot that put UNF up 43-42.
Trailing by five, UNF guard Jaclyn Taricska - who scored a career high eight points - hit a 3-pointer with 2:01 to play, making it a 42-40 contest.
Mercer turned the ball over on its next possession, before Jennifer Bowen followed up a layup that Sheffield missed with an offensive rebound. She was fouled on the scramble for the ball and hit a one free throw before missing the second. Shandrea Moore grabbed the rebound on the miss before the ball eventually ended up in Sheffield's hands for the game winner.
"When Taricska knocked down that shot it gave us the confidence and energy we needed," Sheffield said. "We knew we had a fight on our hands and had a good feeling after that. A win like this shows the heart and desire we have to win games."
Bowen led the Lady Ospreys with 14 points, while Taricska followed her with eight. TaShera Lewis had a game high 15 points, 11 of which came in the opening half.
UNF came out of the gates strong, grabbing a 12-5 lead behind six points from both Moore and Bowen. Moore nailed a pair of 3-pointers from the baseline, while Bowen hit a 3-pointer after starting the scoring with a 3-point play.
Jennifer Guldager hit a 3-pointer off an inbound play at the 13:32 mark of the opening half, but that's where the scoring halted for UNF, as Tiffany Williams' free throw was the only UNF point of the game until Bowen hit a jumper with 14 seconds left in the half. UNF trailed 25-18 at the break.
Lewis led the Bears with 11 points in the half, while Bowen had eight for UNF.
The Lady Ospreys didn't enjoy the same type of beginning to the second half, hitting one of their first eight shots. UNF, however, finished by hitting its last three shots.
UNF outrebounded the Bears 32-31, collecting 16 offensive rebounds. Guldager finished tied with Mercer's Erin Keller with a game high six rebounds. The Bears turned the ball over 28 times, compared to 27 for the Lady Ospreys.
UNF will close out its season next week when it hosts Lipscomb on Thursday at 7 p.m. followed by a 2 p.m. contest on Saturday against Gardner-Webb.
