New year begins with win

Wednesday, January 2

Jacksonville, Fla.

7:00 PM

University of North Florida

SAVANNAH STATE

Mary Tappmeyer guided her team to its fifth win Wednesday.

1/2/2008 9:15:05 PM | Women's Basketball

Lady Ospreys control boards in 56-46 victory

Box Score

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The University of North Florida women's basketball team collected 22 offensive rebounds and closed strong Wednesday night in a 56-46 win against Savannah State at UNF Arena.

UNF's Willonda Windham secured the team's first double-double of the season, scoring 11 points and pulling down 12 rebounds, while Shandrea Moore scored a game-high 15 points to go along with four assists and six rebounds in the win.

The Lady Ospreys (5-7) closed the game on a 17-7 run over the final nine minutes of play and held SavannahState (7-6) without a field goal for the final 2:19 of play. The win snapped UNF's two-game losing streak and also halted the Tigers' three-game winning streak.

UNF took a 37-30 advantage after a pair of Moore free throws with 14:57 to play. SavannahState, however, bounced back with a 7-0 run, then tied the game again at 39-39 on a Patrice Robinson layup.

Robinson led the Tigers with 14 points and seven rebounds.

“We knew they were capable of making a run,” UNF head coach Mary Tappmeyer said. “We saw them here in our home tournament and they are an experienced team. We hung in there and were able to control the boards and hit free throws. If you can win both of those of those categories you have a good shot at winning the game”

The Lady Ospreys outrebounded SavannahState 53-33 for the game and hit 14-of-19 free throws, compared to the Tigers' 7-of-15.

Moore scored six if her game-high 15 points in the final 2:29 of play, while Windham grabbed rebounds on both ends of the court and drew a charge in the closing minutes of play to help preserve the win.

Windham gave UNF its first lead of the game with a free throw in the opening half, then answered an Ivy Smith jumper with one of her own to give the Lady Ospreys a 9-8 advantage and help start a 7-0 run that she capped off with another made jump shot.

SavannahState took its final lead of the game on a LaShara Smith jumper with 50 seconds to play in the first half. UNF's Tiffany Williams answered that with a basket 11 seconds later to give the Lady Ospreys a 25-24 lead heading into the locker room.

Williams and Windham each scored seven points in the opening half of play to lead UNF, while Robinson led the Tigers with six points.

UNF shot 33.3 percent for the game and held SavannahState to eight field goals in the second half of play. In all five of its wins this season, the Lady Ospreys have held their opponents to less than 50 points.

SavannahState won the turnover battle, forcing UNF into 25 miscues, while turning the ball over 21 times. Smith led the Tigers with five steals.

The Lady Ospreys will open up conference play this Saturday when they host Stetson at 2 p.m. before welcoming FloridaGulfCoast on Monday at 7 p.m.