UNF set to settle score with Spartans

Thursday, January 29

Jacksonville, Fla.

7 p.m.

University of North Florida

University of South Carolina - Upstate

The UNF starting lineup averaged 32 minutes per game last weekend

1/28/2009 9:29:00 AM | Women's Basketball

Lady Ospreys host USC Upstate at 7 p.m. Thursday in UNF Arena

By: Adam Jonson, UNF Athletics

Game Notes

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – With a new boost of confidence and a revamped playing regime, the University of North Florida women's basketball team will try to avenge an early January Atlantic Sun Conference loss to USC Upstate when the Spartans visit UNF Arena at 7 p.m. on Thursday.

UNF (3-16, 2-8 A-Sun) suffered a 69-50 loss against the Spartans in Spartanburg, S.C., in both teams' first action of 2009 (Jan. 3). Junior Shennette Sheffield scored nine points to lead a UNF bench that netted 29 of the Lady Ospreys' total points. Upstate scored 24 points off 31 UNF turnovers and hit .406 percent of their attempts from the field. The Lady Ospreys shot .328 percent and gave up 40 points in the paint.

Lady Osprey starters have seen an increase in playing time as of late with four starters seeing at least 30 minutes of action and the fifth notching 29 minutes played in UNF's most recent contest at Florida Gulf Coast. Freshman Brittany Kirkland played a then-career-high 39 minutes in UNF's 62-52 win at Stetson before topping that mark by playing all but a few seconds (40- minutes) at FGCU.

This rise in playing time comes on the heels of reduced production of the UNF bench. In the last three contests, Lady Osprey reserves have averaged only 11.0 ppg and scored a season-low four points against FGCU.

Upstate (9-8, 4-5) has split its league decisions since the turn of the New Year, most recently knocking off Campbell, 69-61, after falling by 15 points to Belmont (64-49). The Spartans have also dropped decisions to Jacksonville (78-58) and FGCU (70-61) in 2009, while narrowly pulling out wins against Stetson (57-54) and Lipscomb (59-54).

The Spartans are allowing a conference-high 65.6 ppg while scoring 62.2 per game (sixth in the A-Sun). Chelsea McMillan leads the Spartan squad with a 13.9 ppg average, which ranks sixth in the league. Kendra Wallace's 9.9 ppg average is second-best for Upstate and 22^nd in the conference – one spot behind UNF senior Jennifer Bowen and her 10.0 ppg average.

Despite the loss earlier this month, UNF still leads the all-time series against Upstate, 10-3. The Lady Ospreys also boast a 5-0 record against the Spartans at UNF Arena.

When: Thursday, Jan. 29 – 7 p.m.

Where: UNF Arena

Admission: Adult – $5; Seniors (55+)/Youth (13-17) – $3; See promotions below.

ASUN.TV: Click here (coverage begins at 6:45 p.m.)

Live Stats: Click here (begins at 7 p.m.)

UNF's Record: 3-16 (2-5 A-Sun)

Upstate's Record: 9-8 (4-5 A-Sun)

Series: UNF leads, 10-3

Last Meeting: Jan. 3, 2009, in Spartanburg, S.C. (Upstate won, 69-50)

Who's Hot: Freshman Brittany Kirkland continued her current hot streak, netting 15 points and playing all but a few seconds of the contest at Florida Gulf Coast. She is averaging 13.5 ppg over UNF's last six games and has scored in double figures in four of those outings. For the season, her 10.8 ppg average is good for 17^th in the A-Sun.

Quoting Coach Tappmeyer: "Our guards are playing much better now than when we played at Upstate. We have found a lineup that we are comfortable with and BK [Brittany Kirkland] and Juliemay [Syquio] are really starting to play well together. Jen G [Jennifer Guldager] is getting back to her old form and Lande [Arlande Cherizol] is becoming more comfortable. Hopefully it will be a different story in our house. We gained a lot of confidence this weekend and will now face another team that is playing confidently."

Gameday Notables: UNF is in its final season of the four-year transition into Division I … the Lady Ospreys are 2-2 all-time when playing on Jan. 29 … UNF snapped the program's longest losing streak of 12 games Thursday with a 62-52 win against Stetson ... 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 … Bowen and Guldager will steer the program once again, having been with the team through every season of the reclassification process.

Promotions: Florida Educators' Night … all Florida educators receive free admission when showing school identification card.