Boxscore (PDF)
Tournament Central
 
WILMINGTON, N.C. – University of North Florida women's basketball's dominant second half propelled the Ospreys to a 55-41 win over UNC Wilmington on Friday afternoon at the Trask Coliseum in the UNCW Hampton Inn Thanksgiving Classic. The Ospreys outscored UNCW 34-8 in the final half.
 
As of the conclusion of UNF's game on Friday afternoon, UNCW's eight points in the second half are the fewest to be allowed in a half by any Atlantic Sun team so far this season.
 
"For a young team, I'm really proud of our mettle and how we fought," said head coach Mary Tappmeyer. "We were down by 12 at half and we talked about coming back. Sierra made several key plays and really stepped up today. The girls did an outstanding job with our game plan."
 
Destinee Smith led the Ospreys with 18 points, while Sierra Shepherd added in 12 points, three assists and three steals. Paulina Zaveckaite pulled down 10 rebounds.
 
UNF shot 40.0 percent (20-for-50) for the game, including 52.4 percent (11-21) in the second-half alone. The Ospreys also edged UNCW on rebounding, 38-36.
 
Kelva Atkins paced UNCW with 16 points, while Naqaiyyah Teague grabbed 11 boards.
 
The Seahawks shot 27.8 percent (15-for-54) for the game. After starting the game at 42.9 percent in the first half, UNCW only shot 11.5 percent (3-for-26) and were 0-for-8 from three-point range in the second half.
 
UNF and UNCW battled close for the first 15 minutes of the opening half. The Seahawks had an early six-point lead, going up 11-5 at 16:46 on a Sarah Myatt jumper. UNF chipped away at UNCW's lead and used a five-point run to take a 17-15 advantage at 9:03. A Shepherd jumper provided the Ospreys' with the two-point cushion. As UNF and UNCW traded baskets, a jumper from Smith at 5:15 gave UNF the 21-20 lead. However, UNCW held the Ospreys scoreless for the remainder of the half, using a 13-0 run to close out the first half and take a 33-21 lead into halftime.
 
The Ospreys came out firing in the second half. Powered by an 11-2 run, which included three treys, the Ospreys pulled to within three of UNCW. A Smith three-pointer at 13:00 made it a 35-32 game in favor of the Seahawks. The Ospreys continued to chip away at their deficit and tied the game at 39-39 with a pair of Janeá Williams free throws at 7:59. A layup from Bailey Florin put UNF ahead 41-39 at 7:07, but an Atkins jumper at 6:06 evened the score at 41-41. However, that would be the last points for the Seahawks as UNF finished the game on a 14-0 run. A layup from Shepherd at 4:39 sparked the Ospreys' game-ending spurt.
 
UNF concludes play at the UNCW Hampton Inn Thanksgiving Classic on Saturday against Eastern Kentucky. The Colonels won their game against Western Carolina on Friday 71-62. Saturday's game is set for a Noon tip-off. Live stats and live video can be found here.