TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - North Florida women's basketball (0-1) struggled to find its groove in the matinee season opener against No. 19 Florida State, as they fell on the road, 119-49, early Monday afternoon.
Sarah Taub ended the game as the leading scorer for the Ospreys with 12 points, shooting 5-for-12 from the field with a made three-pointer on her first attempt from range. It's the eighth time in her career with double figures and the second straight season opening the year with 10+ points against a Power Four team.
FSU 119, UNF 49
RECORDS
North Florida | 0-1
Florida State | 1-0
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
First Half: Sarah Taub scored the first bucket of the season with a transition layup to get the scoring started for the Ospreys...a couple scores from
Helena Rafnsdottir and
Kaila Rougier ended the first period for UNF...Taub and
Jazmine Spencer came out of with back-to-back scores in the second quarter, followed by a jumper from
Jasmynne Gibson...
Grace Hunter beat out the shot clock with the left hand later in the period to close out the half for the Ospreys.
Second Half: Taub returned with first points of the second half on a made jumper...Eklund made her first points of the game, along with Taub hitting the first three of the game from the wing...Rafnsdottir scored later in the third and assisted on the buzzer-beater from Spencer to end the quarter...Rafnsdottir added to her totals once again with a driving layup to draw an and-one bucket in the fourth...
Jamisyn Stinson grabbed the first points of her career late in the game with a three-pointer to continue a 7-2 run for UNF...another freshman made her scoring debut in
Nicole Carreno with a three, as the Ospreys faltered in their season opener at FSU.
LEADERS BY THE NUMBERS
UNF
Sarah Taub | 12 points, 2 rebounds
Helena Rafnsdottir | 9 points, 2 rebounds
Kaila Rougier | 8 points, 2 assists
Sydney Pettis | 3 points, 5 rebounds
FSU
Makayla Timpson | 17 points, 22 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 steals, 3 blocks
Ta'Niya Latson | 27 points, 3 steals
O'Maria Gordon | 15 points, 4 assists, 4 steals
Avery Treadwell | 14 points, 8 rebounds
COACH'S THOUGHTS
"We're grateful to have tipped off the '24-'25 season today, but disappointed in the outcome of the game. I thought this matchup against a top-25 team really exposed our inexperience. We turned the ball over in some uncharacteristic ways and did not compete on the boards. We didn't give ourselves enough possessions. I have said from the start that the talent level of our team this year is higher, but it will take us longer to come together on the floor. Today was one step in that process and we will learn from it."
-- head coach Erika Lambert
NOTES
- Taub was the Ospreys' leading scorer for the first time in her career.
- Rafnsdottir was right behind Taub with nine points coming off the bench in her season debut.
- Sydney Pettis ended the game as the leading rebounder with five boards against the Seminoles.
- Rougier scored eight points with a team-high 30 minutes play in the opener.
- Stinson, Carreno and Gibson all made their collegiate debuts on Monday.
- Spencer, Hunter, Pettis and Nia Brown also joined in making their Osprey debuts as well.
- Four of the five starters against FSU were either a newcomer or freshman.
UP NEXT
North Florida will make its home debut for the 2024 season on Elementary Day against Trinity Baptist on Wednesday, Nov. 6, with tip-off set for 11 a.m., at UNF Arena.
