Women's Basketball Drops ASUN Opener to Stetson

Monday, January 2

DeLand, Fla.

5 p.m.

University of North Florida

3-8,0-1ASUN

Stetson

7-7,1-0ASUN

North Florida

Stetson

1/2/2023 7:47:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Rougier and Wesolek Both Score in Double Figures

DELAND, Fla. - North Florida women's basketball (3-8, 0-1 ASUN) had its stretch of runs in the opening and closing quarter, but fell short in between in a loss against Stetson (7-7, 1-0 ASUN), 70-47, to open up conference play on Monday evening.

The Ospreys held tight through the first quarter with the score tied at 11 before Stetson pulled away with two separate scoring runs before and after the halftime break. UNF had a run of their own in the fourth period of play, scoring 14 straight points, but it was too much of a deficit to overcome on the road.

Elysa Wesolek and Kaila Rougier paced the team in scoring with 10 points each, which matches a career-high for Rougier for a third time this season. Helena Rafnsdottir also had an all-around performance with nine points and eight rebounds, which almost doubles her previous career-high in points.

SU 70, UNF 47

RECORDS

North Florida | 3-8 (0-1 ASUN)
Stetson | 7-7 (1-0 ASUN)

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

First Half: Kaila Rougier made a statement on the first possession of the game blocking the Stetson shot into the stands...the Ospreys were first to attack in the opening quarter after Elysa Wesolek made a long jumper...Rougier made another key play with a steal that set up a basket for Helena Rafnsdottir...the second half continued well for UNF with Lyric Swann grabbing her first points with a long jumper to cut into the deficit...Wesolek showed resilience on a play in the paint fighting defenders to stay with the play and earn the bucket...Wesolek earned the score on an and-one bucket to make it a seven-point game heading into the break.

Second Half: Helena Rafnsdottir opened the second half for the Ospreys with a corner three to put a stop to a 12-0 run by the Hatters...the Ospreys scored once again courtesy of Wesolek, but did not record another field goal in the third quarter after Stetson close the third on another run that put them up by 25 points...UNF opened the fourth strong with back-to-back layups from Sarah Taub and Emma Broermann...Rougier pulled from the top of the arc to hit the Ospreys' first three-pointer since the start of the third quarter...the Ospreys went on a 14-0 run near the end of the fourth quarter, but it wasn't enough in the conference opener in a 70-47 loss on the road to the Hatters.

LEADERS BY THE NUMBERS

UNF
Elysa Wesolek | 10 points, 3 rebounds, 2 blocks
Kaila Rougier | 10 points, 6 assists, 2 rebounds, 2 steals
Helena Rafnsdottir | 9 points, 8 rebounds, 4 steals, 2 blocks
Sarah Taub | 9 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 blocks, 2 steals

SU
Anabel Ellison | 14 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals
Jordan Peete | 13 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals
Sydney Gouard | 8 points, 10 rebounds

POST-GAME THOUGHTS

"Really disappointing loss tonight. We struggled to get into an offensive rhythm and couldn't sustain our defensive intensity. They executed better to start the third quarter and that was tough to overcome. This is an unfortunate start to conference play, but we have a quick turnaround so we have to continue to grow and get better."
-- head coach Darrick Gibbs

NOTES

Taub set career-high marks in points scored with nine, as well as blocks with two total.
Along with setting a personal-best in points, Rafnsdottir also surpassed her career mark for steals with four total.
Selma Eklund also recorded her first-career steal on Monday evening.
This was the first start made by Wesolek as an Osprey, as well as first start by Taub since the Dublin Challenge.
It was the sixth unique lineup used in 11 games played this season as well.
The Ospreys held even with Stetson in the paint, 24-24, and narrowly outscored them on fast breaks, 12-11.