Box Score (PDF)JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The North Florida women's basketball team couldn't overcome a sluggish start and dropped its home opener to Webber International (2-2), 72-60. A crowd of 2,443, nearly all elementary school students, was on hand for the annual UNF Kids Swoop Takeover.
Webber International used a 17-5 run to close out the second quarter and never looked back. The Warriors took a 33-26 lead into the halftime break, their second largest lead of the half. Webber used a balanced attack that saw four players in figures, led by Jurnee Pettigrew who had a team-high 14 points to go along with eight rebounds.
The Ospreys caught fire from three-point land in the second half, knocking down seven of 11 attempts. For the game the Ospreys hit 11 shots from beyond the arc which is tied for the second most in a single game since 2005.
For the second time in two games, junior
Claire Ioannidis led the way for North Florida. She had a game-high 21 points and was 5-for-8 from three. Sophomore
Maiya Rumph was a presence for the Ospreys on the glass, ripping down a career-high 11 rebounds including three on the offensive end.
Another key for the Ospreys three-point surge was junior
Taru Madekivi who scored a career-high 14 points with a 3-for-4 effort from three-point range.
North Florida cut the Webber International lead down to eight points on a
Sierra Shepherd three pointer with 7:38 to play in the game and it seemed the Ospreys were poised for a comeback. The Warriors simply didn't let the Ospreys get over the hump and Shaquora Lane nailed a three-pointer at the 5:08 mark to give the Warriors an ultimately unsurmountable, 13-point lead.
The Ospreys will have a short turnaround and will be right back at home on Saturday to take on Purdue. Game time is set for 3:00 p.m. and the game will be broadcasted live on ESPN and the WatchESPN app.