Boxscore (PDF) DeLAND, Fla. –
Paulina Zaveckaite recorded her fourth-consecutive double-double, but University of North Florida women's basketball finished the regular season with a 77-45 loss to Stetson on Saturday afternoon at the Edmunds Center.
With the loss, UNF will now be the No. 8 seed in next week's Atlantic Sun Tournament. The Ospreys face top-seeded Florida Gulf Coast in next Friday's first round game. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m., at Alico Arena.
Zaveckaite tallied 17 points and 11 rebounds, while
Destinee Smith added 12 points.
UNF shot 26.9 percent (18-for-67) from the field.
Myeisha Hall and Jama Sharp scored 22 and 21 points, respectively. Sharp also recorded 10 rebounds and seven assists
Stetson was 47.4 percent (27-for-57) from the field, including 55.2 percent in the second half. During the last half, the Hatters were also 55.6 percent (5-for-9) from three-point range.
In the first half, a six-minute scoring drought prevented UNF from being able to stay close with Stetson. Zaveckaite's layup at 13:14 pulled the Ospreys to within seven, but Stetson went on a 10-0 run during that scoring drought to take a 26-9 lead at 7:21 on a Jama Sharp three-point play. Back-to-back baskets from Zaveckaite and
Amber Robinson allowed UNF to cut the deficit down to 13 with 6:03 left in the half. However, Stetson outscored UNF 8-4 in the final 5:44 to take a 34-17 lead into halftime.
UNF was not able to overcome Stetson's hot-shooting second half. After
Sierra Shepherd's jumper at 16:05 made it 40-21, the Hatters used a 12-0 spurt to take a 31-point, 52-21 advantage on a Hall three-pointer at 13:52. UNF attempted to chip away at Stetson's lead and came to within 24 points twice, including at 6:01 with a Zaveckaite layup that made it 60-36. A 12-5 run allowed Stetson to regain a 31-point lead at 2:06 and the Hatters eventually took their largest advantage of the game – a 34-point 77-43 lead – at 1:40 on a Sharp three-pointer. UNF got the game's final basket with a jumper from Smith with 16 seconds remaining.
