University of North Florida
Florida Gulf Coast
UNF Defeats League Leading FGCU, 57-56
2/13/2010 7:00:03 PM | Women's Basketball
Win Clinches Spot in A-Sun Tournament
BOX SCORE
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The University of North Florida women's basketball team held off Florida Gulf Coast to pick up a big 57-56 win on Saturday afternoon in Atlantic Sun Conference action at UNF Arena. With the win, the Ospreys secure a spot in the 2010 Atlantic Sun Conference women's basketball tournament.
The Ospreys improve to 9-16 overall and 6-10 in Atlantic Sun play, while FGCU falls to 20-5 and 15-2 in league play.
Junior guard Juliemay Syquio tallied a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds. She was one assist shy of a triple-double with a game-high nine dishes. Freshman forward Jadhken Kerr scored 14 points to lead the Ospreys. Kerr knocked down 5-of-6 from the field, including 4-of-5 from behind the arc. Sophomore guard Brittany Kirkland also notched 13 points. Senior center Shennette Sheffield tied a career-high with five blocks including, a crucial block with four seconds left in the game.
“Today was a huge defensive effort for us,” said UNF head coach Mary Tappmeyer. “They really bought into the defensive scheme. The team knew that we had to guard the arc. We made three consecutive stops in the end which was huge for us and we were also able to make our shots down the stretch. I think that we had them on their heels tonight. I am so proud of the effort and I'm so glad to see that our seniors got to beat Florida Gulf Coast.”
UNF jumped out early, taking a 14 point (16-2) lead with 14:31 on the clock. FGCU battled back and cut the lead down to two (23-21) with just under five minutes left in the half. The Ospreys closed out the half with a 7-0 run to take a nine point, 30-21 lead into the break.
The Ospreys again jumped out early in the second half, going up 14 (40-26) just over five minutes into the second half. FGCU cut the lead down to single digits, pulling within seven (40-33) before UNF extended the lead back to 10, going up 43-33 midway through the half. FGCU went on a run, outscoring UNF 19-11 to cut the deficit down to two, 57-55, with under a minute remaining. The Eagles connected on one of two free throws and would get another chance to take the lead, but the Sheffield block helped secure the win for the Ospreys.
North Florida shot 51.1 percent (23-45) from the field, while FGCU shot 30.6 percent (19-62). The Ospreys shot 60.0 percent (9-15) from behind the arc and 33.3 percent (2-6) from the free throw line. The Eagles shot 20.6 percent (7-34) from 3-point range and 78.6 percent (11-14) from the line. Kelsey Jacobson led the Eagles with 14 points, while Courtney Chihil grabbed 13 rebounds.
The Ospreys will be back in action Thursday, Feb. 18, and Saturday, Feb. 20, when UNF heads to Georgia for its final road trip of the regular season. On Thursday, the Ospreys will face Mercer at 5 p.m., before traveling to Kennesaw State on Saturday for a noon tip-off.
