UNF holds down Stetson in win

Saturday, January 5

Jacksonville, Fla.

2:00 PM

University of North Florida

STETSON

Juliemay Syquio scored 11 of her 14 points in the first half.

1/5/2008 4:09:20 PM | Women's Basketball

Lady Ospreys surrender only nine points in first half

Box Score

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The University of North Florida and Stetson women's basketball teams showed why they are two of the best defensive teams in the Atlantic Sun Conference in a 44-36 UNF win that got league play started for both teams at UNF Arena.

UNF (6-7, 1-0 A-Sun) gave up only nine points in the opening half of play and looked in complete control with a 29-9 lead at the half. The Hatters (2-11, 0-1 A-Sun), however, turned the tables in the second half, but never came closer than eight points.

The nine points allowed in the first half was a season-low in points allowed during a half this season and also proved to be UNF's best defensive performance as an NCAA Division I institution.

“We expended a lot of energy on the defensive end in the opening half,” UNF head coach Mary Tappmeyer said. “Stetson is a good defensive team and they frustrated us on the offensive end in the second half and we didn't get as many baskets off of steals in transition in the half. Without Jennifer Bowen, the offensive end will be a process for us, finding the right combinations.”

Juliemay Syquio picked up the offensive slack in the absence of Bowen, scoring a game-high 14 points, while Jennifer Guldager scored seven points and pulled down a game-high nine rebounds.

Syquio helped stake the Lady Ospreys to an early advantage hitting three of her first four shots, two of which were beyond the 3-point arc.

UNF held an early 10-5 advantage before Syquio hit a 3-pointer later in the half that increased UNF advantage to 17-7. She followed that with a steal and a basket in the paint, helping the Lady Ospreys to a 19-2 run that ended the first half of play.

The Lady Osprey defense forced 17 Hatter turnovers in the first half and took advantage with 15 points off of those turnovers.

Stetson took better care of the basketball in the second half of play, only turning it over eight times and cashing in with 12 points off of 15 UNF turnovers.

Jamie Nesbit led the second-half charge for Stetson, scoring all 13 of her points in the half. Nesbit hit 3-of-5 shots beyond the 3-point arc and got the half started with a jumper and a pair of 3-pointers that cut the Lady Osprey lead to 33-19 with 15:23 to play.

A Tiffany Williams layup at the 11:51 mark pushed the lead back to 16 points for UNF, but the Hatters rallied again, scoring the next six points, which Nesbit topped off with her third 3-pointer of the half.

Stetson found itself within eight points inside the final three minutes, but never got any closer.

The win was the first in an A-Sun opener for UNF and was also the third-straight victory for the Lady Ospreys over Stetson at UNF Arena. The home team has won all five contests in the series.

After shooting 50 percent from the field in the opening half, UNF shot 28.6 percent in the second half and 39.5 percent for the game, compared to Stetson's 27.9 percent. The two teams finished even with 32 rebounds apiece, while UNF turned the ball over 24 times and forced 25 Stetson turnovers. UNF dished out 14 assists in the game, as Shandrea Moore led all players with four assists in the contest.

UNF will take aim at its longest winning streak of the year on Monday when it hosts FloridaGulfCoast (5-6, 0-1 A-Sun) in a 7 p.m. contest. The game can be heard live on WBOB AM-1320 and is also available to view at ASUN.TV.