University of North Florida
2-6
West Virginia
7-2
Women's Basketball Falters at West Virginia
12/10/2011 2:17:00 PM | Women's Basketball
MORGANTOWN, W. Va. -- Playing a team that ranks second nationally in scoring defense, the University of North Florida women's basketball team dropped an 86-30 game at West Virginia Saturday afternoon at WVU Coliseum.
Destinee Smith led UNF (2-6) with a career-high tying eight points. Larkira Jones, Fabiola Josil and Jadhken Kerr each grabbed a team-best four rebounds.
For the third-straight game, West Virginia (7-2) had four players score in double digits. Taylor Palmer had a game-best 16 points, while Ayana Dunning tallied 15. Akiah Bethel and Brooke Hampton each added 10 points. Dunning led the game in rebounds with nine.
Throughout the day, UNF had to contend with a hot shooting West Virginia team. The Mountaineers, who have held eight of their nine opponents to under 60 points, went 52.7 percent (29-for-55) from the field, including 64.3 percent (9-for-14) from three-point range.
The Mountaineers got the first two baskets of the game with a pair of layups. Jadhken Kerr hit a three pointer at 16:41, but West Virginia responded with a 34-0 run that eclipsed most of the first half. Chandler Merkerson broke UNF's scoring drought with a jumper at 59 seconds. The Ospreys hit two more jumpers before the end of the half, including Desintee Smith's that rattled around before falling through the basket as time expired. West Virginia carried a 41-9 lead into halftime.
UNF saw the Mountaineers make most of their free throws in the second half. The Ospreys remained with 32 at two occasions early on, but West Virginia continued to expand its lead throughout the remainder of the half.
UNF shot 26.2 percent for the day, going 11-for-42.
West Virginia held a 42-21 advantage in rebounds.
UNF returns to action on Wednesday when the Ospreys travel to Florida Atlantic. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m., from FAU Arena.
