Lady Ospreys try to turn the tide

Saturday, January 10

Jacksonville, Fla.

2 p.m.

University of North Florida

Mercer University

Senior Jennifer Bowen is averaging 14.7 points since 2009 began

1/9/2009 11:23:00 AM | Women's Basketball

UNF hosts Mercer at 2 p.m. on Saturday

By: Adam Jonson, UNF Athletics

Game Notes

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Putting an end to its current slump will be the focal point for the University of North Florida women's basketball team Saturday when it continues its three-game Atlantic Sun Conference homestand by hosting Mercer at 2 p.m. at UNF Arena.

UNF (2-12, 1-4 A-Sun) has dropped nine in a row since knocking off Lipscomb in the A-Sun opener at UNF Arena during the first week of December. In that stretch, the Lady Ospreys have dropped three home games, moving the team's home record to 2-5 this season.

Mercer (6-7, 2-2) finds itself in the midst of a skid of its own, having fallen in its last four tries and five of its last six. The Bears are also winless in 2009 with losses in league action to Campbell (56-50) and most recently Jacksonville (78-60). Mercer began A-Sun play with wins over USC Upstate and East Tennessee State before losing to Florida State (74-54) to begin their current slide.

The Bears offensive attack is led by Dominique Chism, whose average of 15.1 points per game ranks second in the A-Sun. LaToya Jackson averages 13.2 points while Courtney Ford sinks an average of 11.6 points and grabs a team-best 5.6 rebounds. Jackson has drained 27 shots from beyond the arc (.342 percent).

The Lady Ospreys used the leadership of seniors Jennifer Bowen and Jennifer Guldager to sweep the series last season. Bowen flushed 21 points and grabbed seven rebounds, both Lady Osprey highs, to lead UNF to a 63-55 win at UNF Arena. Earlier in the season, Guldager led the team in scoring (17 points) and rebounds (7) to give UNF a 53-52 overtime win in Macon, Ga. The pair of wins made four-straight for UNF over Mercer.

When: Saturday, Jan. 10 – 2 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: 2-12 (1-4 A-Sun)

Mercer's Record: 6-7 (2-2 A-Sun)

Series: UNF leads, 5-1

Last Meeting: Feb. 23, 2008 (UNF won, 63-55, at UNF Arena)

Who's Hot: Senior Jennifer Bowen led all scorers against KSU with 16, making three-straight games she has scored in double figures. She has scored at least 10 points in seven games this season and has pulled down at least five rebounds on six occasions.

Quoting Coach Tappmeyer: "The team showed a lot of energy, emotion, confidence and swagger in the first half against Kennesaw, but I don't think we played the same way in the second half. We missed a couple of shots early and really didn't have the same swagger we had early in the game. I think we have made progress, and I think we need to keep looking at the positive. We are not getting the results we want yet, but the work this team has committed to is shining through, and it showed in the first half. We are going to get back to work, learn how to keep the emotional level high for 40 minutes and win games."

Gameday Notables: UNF is in its final season of the four-year transition into Division I … the Lady Ospreys are 3-2 all-time when playing on Jan. 10 … UNF is currently on a nine-game skid, which is the longest losing streak in program history (was seven from Dec. 30, 2004 to Jan. 22, 2005) … Mercer has never won at UNF Arena (0-3) … 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 senior Jennifer Guldager will steer the program once again, having been with the team through every season of the reclassification process.

Promotions: Take a Kid to the Game … any adult that brings a child 12 years old or younger and all Big Brother/Big Sister pairs receive free admission … special autograph session with players and coaches will follow game … the Lady Ospreys will welcome four children from the Dreams Come True Organization and make them honorary players for Saturday's game.