Early defecit too much for UNF

Saturday, January 3

Spartanburg, S.C.

4 p.m.

University of North Florida

University of South Carolina - Upstate

Jennifer Bowen led UNF with 10 points.

1/3/2009 6:34:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Lady Ospreys drop 69-50 decision at USC Upstate

By: Shawn LaFata

Box Score

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The University of North Florida women's basketball team found itself in an early deficit and couldn't find its way out in a 69-50 loss at USC Upstate on Saturday.

UNF (2-10, 1-3 A-Sun) committed 31 turnovers in the game and hit only 1-of-13 shots beyond the 3-point arc, compared to an Upstate squad that had 18 turnovers and 17 assists on the afternoon.

Jennifer Bowen scored 10 points to lead the Lady Ospreys while Shennette Sheffield contributed nine points and seven rebounds off the bench. Kendra Wallace led all players with 15 points for the Spartans. Ebony Johnson followed her with 10 points to go along with five blocks and five steals.

The Lady Ospreys found themselves in an early hole after Upstate jumped out to a 9-2 advantage then eventually upped that lead to 23-8.

UNF tried to chip away at the scoring gap with a 7-2 run that Kim Baker topped off with a 3-pointer from the right wing.

The Spartans carried a 33-18 advantage into the locker room, hitting all eight of their free throw attempts. Chelsea McMillan led all players with eight points for the Spartans, while Kayla Mobley had a team-high four points for the Lady Ospreys. Mobley finished the game with nine points and five rebounds, while Kim Baker and Brittany Kirkland each had seven points. Baker hit UNF's only 3-pointer in the game and was 3-of-5 from the field in the contest.

Upstate expanded its 15-point advantage to 19 in the first four minutes of the second half thanks mainly to its transition game. UNF countered by getting the bulk of its points in the paint with Sheffield and Mobley doing most of the work, while Kirkland drove to the basket, scored and completed a 3-point play to make it a 50-33 contest.

UNF was able to pull within 15 points but never got any closer in dropping its second-straight A-Sun contest and first conference game on the road. The Lady Ospreys are 0-6 away from home this season.

UNF controlled the boards, pulling down 45 rebounds compared to USC Upstate's 36. Jennifer Guldager finished tied with Hawkins with a game-high eight rebounds. Mobley and Rachelle Rasley each pulled down five rebounds for the Lady Ospreys.

Upstate shot 40.6 percent from the field for the game, compared to UNF, which shot 32.8 percent. Both teams shot the ball well from the free throw line with UNF making 9-of-11 shots from the charity stripe (81.8 percent) and the Spartans hitting 14-of-16 (87.5 percent).

UNF will wrap up its conference road trip and try to get back on the winning track with a 4:15 p.m. contest Monday at USC Upstate.