@OspreyWBB Drops Opener of UNF Thanksgiving Classic

Friday, November 27

Jacksonville, Fla.

3:00 p.m.

University of North Florida

1-5

Bethune-Cookman

3-3

Bethune-Cookman

North Florida

Sierra Shepherd dribbling down the court

11/27/2015 6:55:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Box Score (PDF) | Towson/Western Illinois Box Score (PDF)
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Bethune-Cookman Wildcats emerged victorious in the nightcap of the UNF Thanksgiving Classic doubleheader. A third quarter scoring spurt by the Wildcats helped them to a 53-49 win over the Ospreys at UNF Arena.

After building a six-point lead at the halftime horn, Bethune-Cookman erased the deficit midway through the third quarter courtesy of an 11-0 run. From that point forward, the lead changed hands five times and the two teams were tied a total of eight different occasions.

Bethune's Kendra Cooper logged all 40 minutes and tallied a game-high 20 point including four second half three-pointers. For the game she was 6-for-14 from beyond the arc and was credited for two assists and two rebounds. Kailyn Williams registered a double-double in the contest with 10 points and a game-high 12 rebounds.
For the Ospreys, Mayia Rumph was all over the court for Head Coach Darrick Gibbs' team. She recorded her first career double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. She was a perfect 4-for-4 from the charity stripe in the contest.

The game was close down the stretch and the Ospreys held their last lead at the 2:05 mark of the fourth quarter. Ashanti Hunt gave the Wildcats the lead for good on a backdoor cut to the weak side of the lane with 22 seconds remaining. Two defensive stands in the final seconds including a steal on the Ospreys final possession sealed the game for the Wildcats.

For the third time in the last four games, Senior Kadesia Johnson had eight or more rebounds. She established a new career high with nine on the afternoon and also chipped in four points.

The final two games of the UNF Thanksgiving Classic are scheduled for Saturday beginning with Western Illinois and Bethune-Cookman at 1:00 p.m. The Ospreys will conclude the day with a matchup against Towson at 3:00 p.m. Earlier on Friday, Towson defeated Western Illinois, 83-77.