#WBB Falls in Final Seconds to Siena

Saturday, November 23

Burlington, Vt.

5 p.m.

University of North Florida

2-4

Siena

2-2

Siena

North Florida

11/23/2013 8:27:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

By: North Florida Athletics

Boxscore (PDF)

BURLINGTON, Vt. – University of North Florida women's basketball's comeback was thwarted by a pair of Siena free throws with six seconds left in the game as the Ospreys fell 61-60 in the TD Bank Classic Consolation Game at Patrick Gymnasium.

"We had the opportunity to take that game," said head coach Mary Tappmeyer. "We missed free throws down the stretch and had a critical turnover. I'm proud how we battled back from being down 10, but we have to take better care of the basketball and be committed to becoming a better defensive team."

Powered by a strong second-half, UNF shot 50.0 percent (23-for-46) for the game and was 60.0 percent (15-for-25) in the second half. The Ospreys also out-rebounded Siena 39-30.

Destinee Smith scored a game-best 15 points, while Raneisha Lamar (12 points, 12 rebounds) and Paulina Zaveckaite (10 points, 12 rebounds) each had a double-double.

Siena, who also had a strong second half, shot 36.7 percent (22-for-60) from the floor, including a 48.1 percent (13-for-27) performance in the second half. Clara Sole Anglada scored a team-high 15 points, while Kanika Cummings tallied 12. Meghan Donohue notched a team-best seven rebounds.

UNF erased a 10-point deficit in the second half to take a four-point, 60-56 lead with 1:05 to go. However, Siena drew two costly UNF fouls. Cummings made a layup at 44 seconds while drawing a foul. Cummings then made the foul shot to make it 60-59. After a critical Osprey turnover, Tehresa Coles was fouled while shooting with six seconds to go and made both foul shots in order to stop UNF's rally.

The game started out low-scoring as UNF held an 8-6 lead at 11:12 when Larkira Jones hit a free throw. A 6-0 run by Siena lifted the Saints to a 12-8 lead at 9:37. The Ospreys responded with an 8-3 run and went up 16-15 on a Brittney Wright layup at 6:47. Siena quickly erased UNF's lead and ultimately went up by seven with a Sole Anglada layup at 1:44 making it 27-20. A layup by Lamar at 1:14 cut UNF's deficit to five as the teams headed into halftime with Siena up 27-22.

Both teams came out strong in the second half, but UNF gradually cut Siena's lead down to two twice, including at 14:36 when Smith's jumper made it 41-39. However, a jumper from Kelsey Booth sparked an 8-0 run for Siena that gave the Saints a 49-39 advantage with 12:16 to go. UNF chipped away at Siena's lead. Trailing by nine, the Ospreys went on a critical 8-0 run that cut the deficit down to one. A layup from Lamar at 5:20 made it a 53-52 game in favor of Siena. The Saints took a three-point advantage on a Donohue layup at 4:12, but two free throws from Chandler Merkerson jumpstarted an 8-1 run that allowed UNF to take its four-point, 60-56 lead.

Following the conclusion of the Vermont-Green Bay game, the All-Tournament Team was announced with Smith earning a spot on the All-Tournament Team.

After an eight-day hiatus in between games, UNF returns to action on Sunday, Dec. 1 at Clemson. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m., from Littlejohn Coliseum.