#WBB Captures 76-55 Win Over Edward Waters on Elementary School Day

Thursday, November 14

Jacksonville, Fla.

11 a.m.

University of North Florida

1-2

Edward Waters

2-2

Edward Waters

North Florida

#WBB Captures 76-55 Win Over Edward Waters on Elementary School Day

11/14/2013 2:12:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

By: North Florida Athletics

Boxscore (PDF)

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – In front of a boisterous crowd of 2,233 during Elementary School Day, University of North Florida women's basketball posted a home-opening 76-55 victory over Edward Waters on Thursday at UNF Arena.

"The crowd was loud," said head coach Mary Tappmeyer. "I think that factored into our struggle with communication in the first half. We played music yesterday in the gym, but it did not compare to what we had today. I was pleased with how we responded in the second half. We knew we had the size advantage, so we wanted to use that to our benefit."

UNF shot 55.0 percent (33-for-60) for the game, including 58.8 percent in the second half. The Ospreys' post players accounted for 34 of the 76 points and were 15-for-19 from the field alone. Raneisha Lamar led all scorers with 15 points and Paulina Zaveckaite had 11, while Janeá Williams and Larkira Jones each added four points towards the post players' scoring. Meanwhile, Destinee Smith tallied 11 points and six assists.

The Ospreys dominated the glass, out-rebounding Edward Waters 52-27. Chandler Merkerson and Zaveckaite each pulled down eight boards.

Edward Waters shot 26.7 percent (16-for-60), but were 87.5 percent (14-for-16) for free throws. Amber Antoine led the Tigers with 13 points. Natasha Ballard grabbed a team-high six rebounds.

UNF and Edward Waters battled throughout the first half. The Ospreys' largest lead was an early five-point cushion, going up 10-5 at 16:22 on a Jones layup. Edward Waters chipped away at UNF's lead with an Antoine trey at sparking a 14-2 run that resulted in the Tigers going up 28-20 at 4:36 in the half. However, UNF finished the half with in eight-point run, tying the game at 28-28 on a Jones jumper at 36 seconds.

An 11-2 run to start the second half allowed the Ospreys to take a 41-30 lead at 13:44. UNF continued to build on its lead and went up by 17 later in the half. A layup from Octavia Langston put the Ospreys up 62-45 with 7:40 to go. Although Edward Waters cut UNF's lead down to 10 on a Chelsey Ruise trey at 4:17 to make it 65-55, UNF ended the game with an 11-0 run en route to the 21-point victory.

UNF returns to action on Monday against Samford at UNF Arena. The game, which is the first of a doubleheader with UNF's men's team that evening, is scheduled for a 5:30 tip off.