University of North Florida
Bethune-Cookman
UNF Rally Falls Short to Bethune-Cookman, 60-57
12/19/2010 6:22:38 PM | Women's Basketball
JACKSONVILLE
Leading the Ospreys (2-8) was senior Juliemay Syquio with 13 points. Brittany Kirkland added 11 points in the game and handed out four assists. Taylor Smith added nine points and took four charges for the Ospreys. Larkira Jones grabbed a team-high six rebounds. Kirkland and Smith picked up All-Tournament nods.
The Wildcats (4-5) were led by a trio of players in double-digits with Jasmine Elum leading the charge with 23 points. Jasmine Daniels added 11 points and DJ Fowler tallied 10. Sarah Bolden pulled down a game-best seven rebounds. Elum earned a spot on the All-Tournament team.
The Ospreys got out to a quick start, taking an early eight point, 12-4 lead. UNF held on to the lead and were up 24-17 with 5:18 left in the half , but the Wildcats answered with a 9-0 run to take their first lead of the half, up 26-24, at the 2:48 mark. The two teams traded baskets to close out the half and entered into the break tied at 28.
The two teams continued trading baskets to start the second half and were tied at 33 before BCU broke open the scoring with a 20-7 run to take a 53-40 lead at the 7:49 mark. UNF closed the gap with a 6-0 run to pull within seven (53-46) with 5:13 left on the clock. The Wildcats held on to the lead and were up 56-48 with just under four minutes to go.
The Ospreys scored the next seven points to pull within one with 1:40 to go. BCU connected on a pair of free throws, but a jumper from Smith again put the Ospreys within one with 38 seconds remaining. BCU's Fowler hit a pair of free throws with six seconds left to give the Wildcats their final score. UNF had a chance at the end, but the Syquio three pointer fell short.
UNF hit 54.3 percent (19-of-35) from the field and 38.5 percent (5-of-13) from behind the arc. The Wildcats connected on 37.0 percent (20-of-54) from the field and 46.2 percent (6-of-13) from three point range. The Ospreys hit 66.7 percent (14-of-21) from the free throw line while the Wildcats knocked down 73.7 percent (14-of-19).
North Florida held the slight 30 to 28 advantage on the boards. BCU forced 24 turnovers and hit 31 points off turnovers while the Ospreys forced 17 turnovers and connected on 19 points.
Also making the All-Tournament team were Troy's DeAngela Sword and UMKC's Eilise O'Connor who earned the MVP honor.
The Ospreys will be back in action after the holiday break when they host Long Island on Jan. 31 at 2 p.m. in UNF Arena.
