League leader gets past UNF

Thursday, February 19

Jacksonville, Fla.

5:30 p.m.

University of North Florida

Florida Gulf Coast University

Freshman Kim Baker led the Lady Ospreys with 10 points

2/19/2009 10:51:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Lady Ospreys trailed by only five with 32 seconds left

By: Adam Jonson, UNF Athletics

Box Score

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Despite holding its sharp-shooting opponent to zero 3-point field goals in the second half of Thursday night's Atlantic Sun Conference matchup at UNF Arena, the University of North Florida women's basketball team allowed 21 points off turnovers to Florida Gulf Coast, falling 57-48 to the league's top team.

"We did a better job in the second half of closing out and containing and making them shoot contested jumpers," Tappmeyer said. "They hit some of their 3's in the first half out of our press, but we were able to take the press off and lock down," Tappmeyer said. "We forced three shot clock violations, which was huge, and we held them to 25 percent shooting in the second half."

In a 12-point hole at the half (34-22), UNF (6-20, 5-12 A-Sun) battled throughout the second frame, coming as close as five points in the final minute of the contest and outscoring the Eagles 26-23 after the break. FGCU (22-4, 15-3) saw its lead dip to single digits five times in the final 20 minutes but never allowed the Lady Ospreys to pull closer than seven points until the final two minutes.

Freshman Kim Baker, who led the UNF squad with 10 points, seven rebounds and two steals, sliced the Eagle lead to six at the 1:40 mark before knocking down a free throw with 32 seconds left to get UNF to its narrowest deficit since the 6:36 mark of the first half. Forced to foul in the final ticks, FGCU connected on four free throws in the final half minute to wrap up a nine-point victory and push its current winning streak to 13 games.

The Eagles nailed 52.5 percent of their shot attempts in the opening half, including six jumpers from long range. Chelsea Lyles topped the squad with 21 points while Brittany Brown had a game-high nine boards. FGCU forced 19 Lady Osprey turnovers to notch its 21 points off turnovers.

"When you play the No. 1 team in the conference, you can't give up easy baskets," Tappmeyer said. "We allowed them some easy points off turnovers, and we have to make our free throws."

UNF finished 8-for-16 from the charity stripe and fell victim to several clutch misses down the stretch. The Lady Ospreys missed five free ones in the final 10 minutes of the contest.

Sophomore Juliemay Syquio finished with a game-high six assists and added nine points, as did freshman Brittany Kirkland. Senior Jennifer Guldager pulled down seven boards and scored eight points while junior Arlande Cherizol added seven boards and six points.

The Lady Ospreys compiled a .328 shooting percentage in the contest and a .182 mark from 3-point land, joining the Eagles with no makes from downtown in the second half. UNF forced 17 turnovers and held a 42-32 edge on the glass.

Guldager and fellow senior Jennifer Bowen will play their final home game Saturday when the Lady Ospreys host Stetson at 2 p.m. at UNF Arena. Both will be honored in a pre-game ceremony.