JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The North Florida women's basketball team (1-2) will play its third game in six days on Saturday afternoon when they host Purdue (2-0) at UNF Arena. The game marks the second matchup against a Big Ten opponent this season.
Game Notes
Seeing 20/20: For the second time in three games, junior
Claire Ioannidis put together a 20-point effort after a game-high 21 against Webber International on Thursday. The reigning Atlantic Sun co-Player/Newcomer of the Week went 5-for-8 from three-point land and now leads the Ospreys with nine, three-pointers made this season. Last Friday she set the program's single game, D-1 era record with 29 points against UMKC.
Shepherd Facilitates: Sophomore
Sierra Shepherd dished out a career-high eight assists on Thursday to go along with eight points and four rebounds. In all of last season, the eight assist mark was matched only twice, both times by
Brittney Wright. The last Osprey to record nine assists in a game Fabiola Josil in 2013.
For THREEEE: The Ospreys were 11-of-24 from beyond the arc on Thursday's loss to Webber international. The 11 three-pointers were the second most made in a single game since 2005. The 11 treys were spread out amongst four shooters, Ioannidis (5),
Taru Madekivi, Shepherd (2) and
Hadley Kiefer (1).
Statistical Leader: In the latest A-Sun rankings, junior
Claire Ioannidis is second in the A-Sun with 19.7 points per game. She also leads the league with perfect 12-for-12 performance from the free throw line. She is one of 76 players in the NCAA without a miss from the charity stripe.
Breakout Performance: Junior
Taru Madekivi put together her best game of her young Osprey career, netting 14 points on 5-of-6 shooting. She knocked down three of her four shots from three and was 1-for-2 from the free throw line. Madekivi who saw action in 16 games last year has already eclipsed her point total from 2014-15.
First Meeting: After not playing a Big Ten Opponent in nearly a decade, the Ospreys will take on their second in six days. Saturday will be the first ever meeting between Purdue and North Florida. Previous Big Ten opponents include Nebraska (2015) and Indiana (2005).
Limiting the Runs: In both losses this season the Ospreys couldn't overcome significant second quarter runs by their opponents. Against Webber International, the Ospreys were victims of a 17-5 late second quarter run that powered the Warriors to a seven-point lead at the break. On Monday in Nebraska, the Huskers closed out the first half with a 41-5 spurt that broke the game open.
About Purdue: The Boilermakers come into Saturday's game unblemished at two with wins over Jacksonville State and the University of Illinois-Chicago. Senior Guard April Wilson has put together a pair of double doubles this season and led Purdue with 19 points against UIC on Thursday. Not only is she the team's top scorer but is averaging seven assists in her first two games. Saturday's game will be the first of three in the Sunshine State when they play in the Gulf Coast Showcase in Estero Fla., Nov. 27-29.
