Boxscore (PDF)
 
FORT MYERS, Fla. – University of North Florida women's basketball was unable to contend with a Florida Gulf Coast team that shot 57.7 percent in the second half and the eighth-seeded Ospreys fell 74-35 to the top-seeded and No. 20/21 Florida Gulf Coast in the Atlantic Sun Tournament Quarterfinals Friday night at Alico Arena.
 
"We started out a little rocky start, but did much better job defensively and controlled the tempo better in the last 12 minutes of the first half," said head coach Mary Tappmeyer."In the second half, our inability to make shots affected our ability to get back in defensive transitions."
 
Florida Gulf Coast now advances to Wednesday's Atlantic Sun Tournament Semifinals and will host fourth-seeded Jacksonville.
 
Sierra Shepherd scored a UNF-best eight points for the Ospreys, while Paulina Zaveckaite grabbed eight rebounds.
 
UNF shot 25.5 percent (14-for-55) from the field.
 
Five Eagles reached double-figures in scoring with both Kaneisha Atwater and Jenna Cobb tallying a team-best 12 points. Whitney Knight and Stephanie Haas each scored 11 points, while Anthi Chatzigiakoumi registered 10. Knight also pulled down eight rebounds.
 
Florida Gulf Coast shot 45.3 percent (24-for-53) from the field, including 15-for-26 in the second half. A majority of the Eagles' field goals came from three-point range as they were 16-for-33 from beyond the arc and shot 48.5 percent. In the second half, Florida Gulf Coast shot 58.8 percent (10-for-17) from three-point range.
 
Florida Gulf Coast got out to a quick start and UNF found itself trailing by 17 early as the Eagles went up 21-4 at 12:21 on a Knight layup. A jumper from Amber Robinson at 10:36 started a 6-1 Osprey run that allowed UNF to cut the deficit down to 12. A layup from Williams at 7:10 brought the scored to a 22-10 Eagle advantage. A three-pointer from Atwater at 6:46 broke a near five-and-a-half minute field goal drought for Florida Gulf Coast. The Eagles ultimately built an 18-point cushion behind two Katie Meador free throws at 3:04. However, a jumper from Lindsey Levings and a Destinee Smith free throw were the last points of the half and UNF trailed 30-15 at the break.
 
UNF had to contend with a hot-shooting Florida Gulf Coast team in the second half. The Eagles came out on a seven-point run to start the half as UNF trailed 37-15 at 16:39. After Florida Gulf Coast ultimately led by as many as 25 points, a layup from Zaveckaite and a three-point by Shepherd allowed UNF to make it 44-24 with 13:01 to go. However, the Eagles responded with a 16-6 run to gain a 30-point, 60-30 lead at 6:19. Although Shepherd hit her second trey at 6:03, four of the Eagles' last five field goals were of the three-point variety.
 
UNF finishes its season at 11-19 and graduates three seniors in Destinee Smith, Brittney Wright and Paulina Zaveckaite.