#WBB Edged Out by Mercer in Tough Battle

Thursday, March 6

Jacksonville, Fla.

7 p.m.

University of North Florida

-523, 116 ASun

Mercer

-1612, 98 ASun

Mercer

North Florida

3/6/2014 9:28:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

By: North Florida Athletics

Boxscore (PDF)

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Despite a valiant effort, University of North Florida women's basketball fell 71-65 to Mercer on Thursday night at UNF Arena.

"This team is still battling," said head coach Mary Tappmeyer. "We still have a lot of young kids learning and getting valuable minutes. We haven't been in a close-game situation in a very long time. I saw some confidence in their eyes in the second half after we started to come back."

With the loss, the Ospreys are eliminated from contention for next week's Atlantic Sun Tournament.

Destinee Smith tallied 17 points for UNF, while Larkira Jones added 11. Paulina Zaveckaite grabbed six rebounds, while Smith and Brittney Wright each dished out four assists.

UNF shot 44.6 percent (25-for-56) from the floor.

Kendra Grant led the Bears with 22 points, while Precious Bridges tallied a 19-point, 10-rebound double-double. Briana Williams chipped in with 11 points. Sharnea Boykin handed out six assists.

Mercer shot 50.0 percent (26-for-52) and held a 34-31 advantage in rebounds.

UNF and Mercer battled for control throughout the first half. The Ospreys held a three-point, 15-12 lead at 13:06 on a Jones layup. Mercer responded with a 7-0 run to take a 19-15 lead on a Briana Williams jumper at 11:32. UNF regained the lead and went up 20-19 at the 9:57 mark behind a three-point basket from Ki Conner and another Jones layup. The Bears built up two five point leads before UNF cut the deficit down to one as Zaveckaite made a free throw at 4:19 to make it 29-28 in favor of Mercer. However, a late 9-2 run allowed Mercer to pull away from the Ospreys and take a 38-30 lead into halftime.

Mercer took advantage of a slow Osprey second half start and went up by as many as 16 as a jumper by Grant made it 56-40 with 11:43 to go. However, UNF battled back and a Jones layup and foul shot at 11:20 sparked a 10-0 run that cut the deficit down to six. Mercer regained a double-digit advantage and went up 60-50 at 8:45 behind two Briana Williams free throws. UNF once again chipped away at the Bears' lead, using a Smith foul shot to start a 9-2 run. Two Chandler Merkerson free throws brought the Ospreys' deficit down to three as Mercer maintained a 62-59 advantage with 3:50 to go. UNF was able to pull to within one with a Smith trey at 1:49 making it 66-65, but Mercer hit five free throws in the final 48 seconds to come away with the win.

UNF concludes the 2013-14 season on Saturday against Kennesaw State at 1 p.m., at UNF Arena. It will also be Senior Day as the Ospreys will recognize Conner, Jones, Raneisha Lamar and Merkerson prior to the game.