Lady Ospreys jump back into A-Sun play

Saturday, January 3

Spartanburg, S.C.

4 p.m.

University of North Florida

University of South Carolina - Upstate

UNF has finished its non-conference schedule and is looking for a strong finish in A-Sun play

1/2/2009 9:11:00 AM | Women's Basketball

UNF is 10-2 all-time against USC Upstate

By: Adam Jonson, UNF Athletics

Game Notes

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Conference competition resumes for the University of North Florida women's basketball team in the team's first action of the new year when the Lady Ospreys visit USC Upstate for a 4 p.m. matchup on Saturday.

UNF (2-9, 1-1 A-Sun) has dropped its last six contests, beginning with its first A-Sun loss against Belmont on Dec. 6. Before that, the Lady Ospreys had put together their first winning streak of the season with wins against Wofford and fellow league member Lipscomb.

Upstate (4-5, 0-2) opened the season with four wins, but began a five-game slide when A-Sun action opened. The Spartans dropped their first two conference contests to Mercer and Kennesaw State and have since fallen three times.

The Lady Ospreys hosted the Spartans in the only meeting between the two teams last season, which marked the first meeting since 2005. Syquio netted nine points and Sheffield grabbed 10 rebounds to lead UNF to a 48-37 win over Upstate.

The last Spartan win over the Lady Ospreys came in the second-to-last meeting between the two (2005) in Spartanburg, S.C. Upstate knocked off the Lady Ospreys 71-60 before UNF avenged the loss with a 59-57 victory in the Peach Belt Conference Tournament later that season.

When: Saturday, Jan. 3 – 4 p.m.

Where: Spartanburg, S.C. (G.B. Hodge Center)

ASUN.TV: Click here (coverage begins at 3:45 p.m.)

Live Stats: Click here (begins at 4 p.m.)

UNF's Record: 2-9 (1-1 A-Sun)

USC Upstate's Record: 4-5 (0-2 A-Sun)

Series: UNF leads, 10-2

Last Meeting: Jan. 28, 2008 (UNF won, 48-37)

Who's Hot: Freshman Kayla Mobley started both games in Lehigh's Christmas City Classic (her third and fourth of season) and scored a team-high 10 points against Valparaiso for a new career high, and tied her career high of 10 rebounds in that same outing. She also picked up two steals against Valpo after going 3-for-4 from the free-throw line against Lehigh.

Quoting Coach Tappmeyer: "Our record is 1-1 in conference, and regardless of non-conference record, our goal is to do the best we can in league play. We made some big steps in our last couple of practices and our last games, but we have struggled shooting and need to improve in that area. With such a young team, we are certain to have growing pains, but as long as we are learning from them, that is all we can ask."

Gameday Notables: UNF is in its final season of the four-year transition into Division I … the Lady Ospreys are 1-3 all-time when playing on Jan. 3, with the lone win in their last try (2004 win against Edward Waters, 83-36) … UNF is currently on a six-game skid … the longest losing streak in program history is seven games (Dec. 30, 2004 to Jan. 22, 2005) … the Lady Ospreys are coming off their best finish since entering the transitional period, finishing with a 13-16 overall record and 8-8 A-Sun record in 2007-08 … seniors Jennifer Bowen and Guldager will steer the program once again, having been with the team through every season of the reclassification process.