Strong Second Half Powers Women's Hoops to 56-52 Upset of Stetson

Saturday, February 2

Jacksonville, Fla.

2 p.m.

University of North Florida

-1011, 64 ASun

Stetson

-156, 82 ASun

Team	1	2	F
Stetson	27	25	52
North Florida	21	35	56

Strong Second Half Powers Women's Hoops to 56-52 Upset of Stetson

2/2/2013 7:06:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

By: North Florida Athletics

Boxscore (PDF)

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A solid second-half comeback that was highlighted by a critical 13-0 late run lifted University of North Florida women's basketball to a 56-52 upset of Stetson – who entered the game second in the Atlantic Sun standings – at UNF Arena on Saturday afternoon in a Play 4Kay game sponsored by Walgreens.

“I really challenged the team in the lockerroom at halftime,” said head coach Mary Tappmeyer. “We competed well for the first 15 minutes of the first half, but then we caved in to being tired in the last five minutes of the half. In order to beat the No. 2 team in the conference and achieve our goals, we can't do that. You have to guard and play defense. In the second half, we got six consecutive stops on Stetson and hit some really big baskets that gave us some energy and momentum on the defensive end.”

Raneisha Lamar posted her fifth double-double of the season with a career-high 19 points and 11 rebounds. Ki Conner tallied 12 points, while Jadhken Kerr added 11. Meanwhile, Fabiola Josil dished out a career-best nine assists.

Shanasa Sanders scored a game-high 23 points and Victoria McGowan had 16. Sanders also had a team-best seven rebounds.

UNF outshot the Hatters, but Stetson won the battle of the boards. The Ospreys were 45.8 percent (22-for-48), including 56.0 (14-for-25) in the second half. Stetson shot 36.7 percent (18-for-49). The Hatters held a 31-29 advantage on rebounds.

Both teams battled throughout a first half that saw each team hold a six-point advantage at some point. The Ospreys' six-point lead came at 11:44 when a Conner Ki put UNF up 11-5. However, three-straight Stetson three-pointers erased UNF's lead and allowed Stetson to take its first lead of the game. UNF chipped away at its deficit and back-to-back Conner treys ultimately allowed UNF to regain a three-point, 21-18 lead with 5:01 to go. However, Stetson answered with an 11-0 run to close out the half and took a six-point, 27-21 advantage at halftime.

Stetson went up by 10 at 15:04 when a McGowan trey put the Hatters ahead 37-27. UNF responded with a 9-0 run to come to within one, but Stetson eventually built up an eight-point cushion. A C.J. Coddington layup at 7:54 had the Hatters with a 48-40 lead.

Lamar's fast-break layup at 7:46 started UNF's crucial 13-0 run that held Stetson scoreless for six minutes and 44 seconds. Lamar had another layup, this time at 3:15 that tied the game at 48-48. A steal by Josil returned possession to the Ospreys and led to Conner's go-ahead three at 2:58 as UNF went up 51-48. Another Lamar layup capped off the Ospreys run as UNF had a 53-48 advantage with 2:00 to go.

Stetson was able to come to within two when Sanders hit a pair of free throws with 12 seconds left. But Destinee Smith sank two clutch foul shots with 10 seconds to go and UNF preserved the four-point victory.

UNF returns to action on Monday when top-ranked Florida Gulf Coast visits UNF Arena. The game is sponsored by Dunn Wellness with tip-off set for 7 p.m.