Tournament CentralLive StatsLive VideoGame Notes WILMINGTON, N.C. – University of North Florida continues with its road trip, venturing to North Carolina to play in the UNCW Hampton Inn Thanksgiving Classic Friday and Saturday at Trask Coliseum. The Ospreys open the tournament against host UNC Wilmington on Friday at 2 p.m., and then face Eastern Kentucky on Saturday at Noon.
"It's another opportunity for us to play against two different opponents on back-to-back days," head coach
Mary Tappmeyer. "This tournament will be both a physical and mental challenge that will help our team grow.
"This is a great time for our team to be together over the holidays," added Tappmeyer. "Even though we can't be with each of our own families, we are here together with our UNF women's basketball family. It's a blessing to be able to spend Thanksgiving together."
It will be the first time in the program's history in which UNF has played either team. Both UNC Wilmington and Eastern Kentucky are two of the four first-time opponents on the Ospreys' 2014-15 schedule.
Turkey Tourney: The UNCW Hampton Inn Thanksgiving Classic is UNF's first Thanksgiving tournament since participating in the Eagle Classic in 2007. UNF went 1-1 during that tournament, falling to host Southern Mississippi on Nov. 23, 2007, but defeated Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Nov. 24.
Almost Back at Home: Sophomore Janeá Williams is the only North Carolina native on the Ospreys' roster. Williams is from Pinehurst, N.C., which is just over two hours west of Wilmington.
Another Road Weekend, Another State: So far, the Ospreys' six-game road swing has taken the team to three states – Florida (Miami on Nov. 21), Alabama (Samford, Nov. 24) and North Carolina (Nov. 28-29). UNF finishes its road stretch next week at UCF (Dec. 2) and Tennessee State (Dec. 6).
Scouting UNC Wilmington: Enters the weekend 2-1 on the season… first two games of the year were on its home court at Trask Coliseum… comes off an 82-72 loss at Appalachian State last Saturday… also plays Western Carolina in the UNCW Hampton Inn Thanksgiving Classic… begins a six-game homestand with Friday's game… also hosts the Seahawks Hampton Inn Christmas Invitational Dec. 19-20… has three players averaging double-digit points, including Kelva Atkins' team-leading 18.3 points per game… Atkins is averaging 8.0 rebounds per game, while Ryan Flowers has a team-best 9.5 rebound-per-game average. Flowers is also averaging 11.5 points per game.
Scouting Eastern Kentucky: Began 2014-15 in the Preseason WNIT, going 1-2 in the tournament… edged out Central Arkansas last Friday 56-55 in Macon, Ga… also faced West Virginia and Mercer during the Preseason WNIT… finishes a five-game season-opening road swing with this weekend's tournament… plays Western Carolina on Friday to start the UNCW Hampton Inn Thanksgiving Classic… Michaela Hunter comes into the weekend leading the Colonels in points (16.3) and rebounds (8.3)… Shameekia Murray is also averaging double-digits points (13.0).
