Women's Basketball Edges Bethune-Cookman, 56-55

Wednesday, November 28

Jacksonville, Fla.

11 a.m.

University of North Florida

2-4

Bethune-Cookman

2-4

Bethune-Cookman

North Florida

11/28/2012 2:10:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

By: North Florida Athletics

Boxscore (PDF)

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – In front of an energetic crowd of 1,593, the University of North Florida women's basketball held on for a 56-55 win over Bethune-Cookman on Wednesday at UNF Arena during Elementary School Day.

“It was a little too close for comfort, but being in these early out-of-conference games will help us later in the year when we get into Atlantic Sun play,” said head coach Mary Tappmeyer.

Raneisha Lamar powered the Ospreys with a 15-point, 10-rebound double-double. Jadhken Kerr and Fabiola Josil added in 12 and 11 points, respectively.

Bethune-Cookman's Chastity René Taylor led all scorers with 21 points. Amanda Hairston grabbed seven boards.

UNF went 22-for-46 from the floor en route to shooting 47.8 percent on the day. In the second half, the Ospreys were 52.6 percent (10-for-19). UNF also held a slim 34-33 advantage in rebounds.

The Lady Wildcats shot 38.3 percent (23-for-60) for the day.

UNF connected on all of its first four field goals and the half's only foul shot in order to jump out to a 10-0 lead at 17:33. However, the Lady Wildcats responded with a 16-5 run over the next five minutes to go up 16-12 at 11:29.

Ki Conner scored the game's next seven points and UNF regained the lead, going ahead 19-16 at 9:02. UNF and Bethune-Cookman battled it out for the rest of the half. Up by one, a jumper by Destinee Smith with four seconds to go allowed the Ospreys to take a 28-25 lead into halftime.

The Ospreys got out to a pair of early seven-point leads in the second half, including at 15:01 when an Octavia Langston three-pointer put UNF up 39-32. Bethune-Cookman chipped away at UNF's advantage, but the Ospreys did not relinquish the lead en route to their second-straight home win.

“We told the team that whichever team came out the strongest would have the upper hand,” said Tappmeyer. “We came out strong, but then we exhaled. We have to learn to keep our foot on the gas.”

UNF returns to action on Saturday at USF. Tip-off is set for 1 p.m.