Thursday, February 16
Jacksonville, Fla.
7 p.m.
University of North Florida
vs
Jacksonville State
From the Jump - Women's Basketball Prepares for Two Games at Home
2/15/2023 12:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - North Florida women's basketball plays its final home weekend slate of the season when it faces off against Jacksonville State on Thursday, Feb. 16, at 7 p.m., followed with senior day against Kennesaw State on Saturday, Feb. 18, at 2 p.m.
Thursday and Saturday's conference matchups will be broadcasted on ESPN+ & ESPN3. Updates for each game will be made through live stats, as well as on Twitter at OspreyWBB.
Jacksonville State: The Gamecocks are 13-11 overall through their 2022-23 season, along with a 6-7 record in ASUN play...they hold a stellar 8-4 record at home, but are only 3-7 on the road...played two Power Five teams this year in Georgia and Ole Miss, but lost to both teams...will be coming off a home loss this past weekend to Eastern Kentucky, but won the two games before that against Queens and Bellarmine...Kennedy Gavin leads the team in scoring with a 12.5 PPG average...Shawnta Shaw joins Gavin as the only two players with double digit scoring averages...Gavin also leads in rebounds (7.7 RPG) and field goal percentage (48.0%), while Shaw holds the top spot for assists (2.2 APG) and steals (1.9 SPG)...Kelara Griffin is the only player on the team to play and start in all 24 games.
Kennesaw State: The Owls will enter this weekend at 11-13 overall and 7-6 in conference play...much like JSU, they are 7-3 at home, but struggle on the road with a 4-10 record...KSU played three Power Five teams with Ole Miss, Georgia and Georgia Tech...they broke a four-game losing streak this past weekend with back-to-back wins at home against Eastern Kentucky and Bellarmine...will play Jacksonville on the road Thursday before playing UNF on Saturday...Jah'Che Whitfield averages 14.2 PPG to lead the team in that mark...Amani Johnson is just behind in scoring with double figures as well at 10.3 PPG...Whitfield also leads the team with 5.8 RPG and 1.6 SPG, while Johnson averages 5.0 APG, which is more than double the next best player on the team...Whitfield and Johnson are the only two to start all 24 games...Johnson averages the most minutes as well with 36.8 MPG and Whitfield close behind at 32.5 MPG.
- Notch first win against the Gamecocks since they joined the ASUN.
- Also expand series lead to 3-1 and first win against them since 2012.
- Snap a four-game losing streak and first win of February.
- Be sixth consecutive season with a win against the Owls.
- Give head coach Darrick Gibbs nine wins in 15 games against KSU.
- Be a senior day victory for the four UNF seniors that will be honored Saturday.
G - Brianna Livingston (7.0 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 1.3 APG)
G - Sarah Taub (4.0 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 2.0 APG)
G - Kaila Rougier (8.9 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 3.3 APG)
G - Lyric Swann (14.4 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 2.4 APG)
F - Emma Broermann (8.3 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 0.7 APG)
JACKSONVILLE, Ala. - Jazz Bond posted her sixth double-double of the year to go with a five-block night but ASUN West Division-leading Jacksonville State used a big run in the third quarter to hold off the Ospreys, 66-58, Thursday, Feb. 3 at JSU.
LAST 5 vs. THE GAMECOCKS
Date   Result   Location
12/18/11Â Â Â W, 63-47Â Â Â Jacksonville, Fla.
12/14/12Â Â Â W, 52-45Â Â Â Jacksonville, Fla.
2/3/22Â Â Â L, 58-66Â Â Â Jacksonville, Ala.
KENNESAW, Ga. - Despite a dominant first half, North Florida women's basketball (11-13, 4-8 ASUN) came up short down the stretch in a 63-57 loss to host Kennesaw State (9-13, 5-6 ASUN) Saturday, Feb. 12. Jazz Bond posted a game-high 19 points and Ally Knights led all players with eight assists.Â
LAST 5 vs. THE OWLS
Date   Result   Location
2/1/20Â Â Â W, 57-33Â Â Â Jacksonville, Fla.
1/23/21Â Â Â W, 73-63Â Â Â Kennesaw, Ga.
1/24/21Â Â Â L, 73-81Â Â Â Kennesaw, Ga.
1/19/22Â Â Â W, 66-49Â Â Â Jacksonville, Fla.
2/12/22Â Â Â L, 57-63Â Â Â Kennesaw, Ga.
UNF will travel for their final road weekend of the regular season with a pair of games slated against Central Arkansas on Thursday, Feb. 23, at 8 p.m. ET, along with North Alabama on Saturday, Feb. 18, at 6 p.m. ET.
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TEN
The Ospreys will man an 10-player roster throughout the 2022-23 season, which is the lowest it has been under head coach Darrick Gibbs.
NEWBIES
The Ospreys have plenty of new faces to go around with six transfers and three freshmen bringing their talents to Jacksonville, Fla.
Elysa Wesolek (South Carolina), Brianna Livingston (Monmouth), Selma Eklund (UNC-Wilmington) come directly from D-I programs, while Lyric Swann (CCBC Essex) and Jaelyn Swann (CCBC Essex) are additions from NJCCAinstitutions. The Swann sisters do have experience playing at the D-I level, as they previously played for UMBC before transferring to CCBC Essex.
UNF brings in three freshmen after only have one on the roster this past season (Kaila Rougier). Maddie Millar, the only in-state product on the team, and Sarah Taub are guards with stellar shooting abilities. Helena Rafnsdottir also joins as a freshman after playing for her club team in Iceland since she was five years old, as well as the Icelandic Women's National Team.
Assistant coach Myron Brown and director of operations Adrienne Jackson are also welcomed as a newcomers to the squad. Brown joins the Ospreys' coaching staff after being the head women's basketball coach for Thomas University since 2017. Jackson returns to UNF after playing under Darrick Gibbs from 2016-2020.
TWIN TIES
Lyric and Jaelyn Swann both transfer in from CCBC Essex in Maryland to join the Osprey roster. They are one of 15 sets of twins playing for the same Division I women's basketball team this season.
This is also the second consecutive year that UNF will sport a set of sisters on the squad, as Jazz and Jaida Bond both played for the Ospreys this past year.
INTERNATIONAL FACES
Helena Rafnsdottir (Iceland), Selma Eklund (Sweden) and Brianna Livingston (Canada) all join the Ospreys this season representing three different countries. Rafnsdottir and Eklund both have experience playing for the national teams of their respective countries.
It's the third straight season rostering three or more international players, while it also being the first time since 2014-15 that three or more players come from unique countries outside the United States.
INTERNATIONAL PLACES
UNF will make the trip out the Dublin, Ireland, to compete in the MAAC-ASUN Dublin Challenge, joining Eastern Kentucky as the fellow ASUN member playing against MAAC foes.
They are scheduled to compete against Rider on Friday, Nov. 18, at 2:30 p.m. EST, followed by a matchup against Marist the next day on Saturday, Nov. 19, at 9:30 a.m. EST.
SUNSHINE STATE
UNF plays 17 of their 29 games this season inside the state of Florida, including 13 of the 17 matchups played at UNFArena.
It will also be the first time since the 2014-2015 season that the Ospreys will open the season with two games inside their home arena.
ROAD RUNNERS
The Ospreys will visit six different states in their travel schedule on the year, along with their pair of games overseas in Dublin, Ireland.
UNF will visit Wisconsin, Ireland and Alabama before Christmas break, and will return with trips to North Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee and Arkansas.
Out of this year's road slate, the Ospreys will play against four Power Five opponents in Wisconsin, Miami (FL), Auburn and Alabama.
BROERMANNÂ TIME
Emma Broermann leads this team as the unquestioned leader heading into the 2021-22 season. She enters he senior season as the only player on the team with more than one year of experience playing for UNF.
Last season, she was the only player on the team to start all 30 games played. The Okeana, Ohio, native also had the second-best field goal percentage (.602) and the ninth-most blocks (25) in the conference.
Broermann enters her senior season with the Ospreys sitting in the top spot for field goal percentage (.550), as well as the 10th-most blocks (37), in D-I program history.
Thursday and Saturday's conference matchups will be broadcasted on ESPN+ & ESPN3. Updates for each game will be made through live stats, as well as on Twitter at OspreyWBB.
FROM THE JUMP
- Ospreys will be looking for their first victory since Jan. 28 after their win against Jacksonville.
- They're coming off a close loss to Lipscomb but scored the most points on the road since Jan. 5 against Queens.
- Will be last home weekend before the final stretch of two roads games next weekend and the regular season finale on Wednesday, Mar. 1, hosting Eastern Kentucky.
- UNF will commemorate their seniors on Saturday against Kennesaw State before the game at 2 p.m.
- The four graduates will be Brianna Livingston, Elysa Wesolek, Jaelyn Swann and Emma Broermann.
- Livingston has been a vital piece of the team as a graduate transfer averaging 7.0 PPG in her 13 appearances this season.
- Wesolek was a crucial part of the big home wins against Liberty and Jacksonville combining for 21 points in those home victories.
- J. Swann is another transfer that made a big impact on this year's squad with five double-digit scoring games, including her first career double-double against Trinity Baptist.
- Emma Broermann is the only senior who played all four years at UNF, as she was also the only one to play and start in all 23 games this season.
- The Okeana, Ohio, native will leave the Ospreys in the top-10 in D-I program history for total rebounds (463), offensive rebounds (203), blocks (51), and field goals made (278).
- She will also have the top overall spot holding the best career field goal percentage (.536) in UNF's D-I history.
SCOUTING REPORT
Jacksonville State: The Gamecocks are 13-11 overall through their 2022-23 season, along with a 6-7 record in ASUN play...they hold a stellar 8-4 record at home, but are only 3-7 on the road...played two Power Five teams this year in Georgia and Ole Miss, but lost to both teams...will be coming off a home loss this past weekend to Eastern Kentucky, but won the two games before that against Queens and Bellarmine...Kennedy Gavin leads the team in scoring with a 12.5 PPG average...Shawnta Shaw joins Gavin as the only two players with double digit scoring averages...Gavin also leads in rebounds (7.7 RPG) and field goal percentage (48.0%), while Shaw holds the top spot for assists (2.2 APG) and steals (1.9 SPG)...Kelara Griffin is the only player on the team to play and start in all 24 games.Kennesaw State: The Owls will enter this weekend at 11-13 overall and 7-6 in conference play...much like JSU, they are 7-3 at home, but struggle on the road with a 4-10 record...KSU played three Power Five teams with Ole Miss, Georgia and Georgia Tech...they broke a four-game losing streak this past weekend with back-to-back wins at home against Eastern Kentucky and Bellarmine...will play Jacksonville on the road Thursday before playing UNF on Saturday...Jah'Che Whitfield averages 14.2 PPG to lead the team in that mark...Amani Johnson is just behind in scoring with double figures as well at 10.3 PPG...Whitfield also leads the team with 5.8 RPG and 1.6 SPG, while Johnson averages 5.0 APG, which is more than double the next best player on the team...Whitfield and Johnson are the only two to start all 24 games...Johnson averages the most minutes as well with 36.8 MPG and Whitfield close behind at 32.5 MPG.
AN OSPREY WIN AGAINST JACKSONVILLE STATE WOULD...
- Notch first win against the Gamecocks since they joined the ASUN.- Also expand series lead to 3-1 and first win against them since 2012.
- Snap a four-game losing streak and first win of February.
AN OSPREY WIN AGAINST KENNESAW STATE WOULD...
- Be sixth consecutive season with a win against the Owls.- Give head coach Darrick Gibbs nine wins in 15 games against KSU.
- Be a senior day victory for the four UNF seniors that will be honored Saturday.
PROJECTED UNF STARTING FIVE (BASED ON LAST GAME)
G - Brianna Livingston (7.0 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 1.3 APG)G - Sarah Taub (4.0 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 2.0 APG)
G - Kaila Rougier (8.9 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 3.3 APG)
G - Lyric Swann (14.4 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 2.4 APG)
F - Emma Broermann (8.3 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 0.7 APG)
LAST TIME VS. JACKSONVILLE STATE
JACKSONVILLE, Ala. - Jazz Bond posted her sixth double-double of the year to go with a five-block night but ASUN West Division-leading Jacksonville State used a big run in the third quarter to hold off the Ospreys, 66-58, Thursday, Feb. 3 at JSU.LAST 5 vs. THE GAMECOCKS
Date   Result   Location
12/18/11Â Â Â W, 63-47Â Â Â Jacksonville, Fla.
12/14/12Â Â Â W, 52-45Â Â Â Jacksonville, Fla.
2/3/22Â Â Â L, 58-66Â Â Â Jacksonville, Ala.
LAST TIME VS. KENNESAW STATE
KENNESAW, Ga. - Despite a dominant first half, North Florida women's basketball (11-13, 4-8 ASUN) came up short down the stretch in a 63-57 loss to host Kennesaw State (9-13, 5-6 ASUN) Saturday, Feb. 12. Jazz Bond posted a game-high 19 points and Ally Knights led all players with eight assists. LAST 5 vs. THE OWLS
Date   Result   Location
2/1/20Â Â Â W, 57-33Â Â Â Jacksonville, Fla.
1/23/21Â Â Â W, 73-63Â Â Â Kennesaw, Ga.
1/24/21Â Â Â L, 73-81Â Â Â Kennesaw, Ga.
1/19/22Â Â Â W, 66-49Â Â Â Jacksonville, Fla.
2/12/22Â Â Â L, 57-63Â Â Â Kennesaw, Ga.
LOOKING AHEAD
UNF will travel for their final road weekend of the regular season with a pair of games slated against Central Arkansas on Thursday, Feb. 23, at 8 p.m. ET, along with North Alabama on Saturday, Feb. 18, at 6 p.m. ET.Â
OTHER SEASON NOTES
TENThe Ospreys will man an 10-player roster throughout the 2022-23 season, which is the lowest it has been under head coach Darrick Gibbs.
NEWBIES
The Ospreys have plenty of new faces to go around with six transfers and three freshmen bringing their talents to Jacksonville, Fla.
Elysa Wesolek (South Carolina), Brianna Livingston (Monmouth), Selma Eklund (UNC-Wilmington) come directly from D-I programs, while Lyric Swann (CCBC Essex) and Jaelyn Swann (CCBC Essex) are additions from NJCCAinstitutions. The Swann sisters do have experience playing at the D-I level, as they previously played for UMBC before transferring to CCBC Essex.
UNF brings in three freshmen after only have one on the roster this past season (Kaila Rougier). Maddie Millar, the only in-state product on the team, and Sarah Taub are guards with stellar shooting abilities. Helena Rafnsdottir also joins as a freshman after playing for her club team in Iceland since she was five years old, as well as the Icelandic Women's National Team.
Assistant coach Myron Brown and director of operations Adrienne Jackson are also welcomed as a newcomers to the squad. Brown joins the Ospreys' coaching staff after being the head women's basketball coach for Thomas University since 2017. Jackson returns to UNF after playing under Darrick Gibbs from 2016-2020.
TWIN TIES
Lyric and Jaelyn Swann both transfer in from CCBC Essex in Maryland to join the Osprey roster. They are one of 15 sets of twins playing for the same Division I women's basketball team this season.
This is also the second consecutive year that UNF will sport a set of sisters on the squad, as Jazz and Jaida Bond both played for the Ospreys this past year.
INTERNATIONAL FACES
Helena Rafnsdottir (Iceland), Selma Eklund (Sweden) and Brianna Livingston (Canada) all join the Ospreys this season representing three different countries. Rafnsdottir and Eklund both have experience playing for the national teams of their respective countries.
It's the third straight season rostering three or more international players, while it also being the first time since 2014-15 that three or more players come from unique countries outside the United States.
INTERNATIONAL PLACES
UNF will make the trip out the Dublin, Ireland, to compete in the MAAC-ASUN Dublin Challenge, joining Eastern Kentucky as the fellow ASUN member playing against MAAC foes.
They are scheduled to compete against Rider on Friday, Nov. 18, at 2:30 p.m. EST, followed by a matchup against Marist the next day on Saturday, Nov. 19, at 9:30 a.m. EST.
SUNSHINE STATE
UNF plays 17 of their 29 games this season inside the state of Florida, including 13 of the 17 matchups played at UNFArena.
It will also be the first time since the 2014-2015 season that the Ospreys will open the season with two games inside their home arena.
ROAD RUNNERS
The Ospreys will visit six different states in their travel schedule on the year, along with their pair of games overseas in Dublin, Ireland.
UNF will visit Wisconsin, Ireland and Alabama before Christmas break, and will return with trips to North Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee and Arkansas.
Out of this year's road slate, the Ospreys will play against four Power Five opponents in Wisconsin, Miami (FL), Auburn and Alabama.
BROERMANNÂ TIME
Emma Broermann leads this team as the unquestioned leader heading into the 2021-22 season. She enters he senior season as the only player on the team with more than one year of experience playing for UNF.
Last season, she was the only player on the team to start all 30 games played. The Okeana, Ohio, native also had the second-best field goal percentage (.602) and the ninth-most blocks (25) in the conference.
Broermann enters her senior season with the Ospreys sitting in the top spot for field goal percentage (.550), as well as the 10th-most blocks (37), in D-I program history.
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