Team closes season with loss to A-Sun leader

By Jeremie Canton
CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Rebecca Daly

Freshman center Wlllonda Windham led the Ospreys against Lipscomb University, scoring 12 points. Windham also scored eight points against Belmont University.

The University of North Florida women's basketball team finished its 2006-2007 season with split results to Atlantic Sun Conference foes.

The Ospreys prevailed over the Lipscomb University Bisons 54-51 March 1 after freshman point guard Shandrea Moore completed a decisive layup in the final seconds of the game. The team lost to Belmont University March 3, missing several injured teammates during senior day.

Late in the second half against Lipscomb, sophomore guard Jennifer Bowen scored a 3-pointer to give UNF a 51-47 edge. But Lipscomb answered back with its own 3-pointer and a free throw to tie the score at 51.

Moore's layup with 11 seconds left and her free throw in the last two seconds secured the Osprey victory.

"It was huge," said head coach Mary Tappmeyer. "She [Moore] is going to bring the game up for the Ospreys and go coast to coast in the future."

Four Ospreys finished with double digits against the Bisons including freshman center Willonda Windham, who led the team with 12 points. Sophomore forward Jennifer Guldager and senior guard Denisia Andrews each followed with 11. Bowen also scored 10 points.

The Ospreys conveyed this energy in the defensive end. Senior point guard Denisia Andrews led the way with five of the Ospreys' 14 steals.

Moore's well-rounded performance followed with four steals, four assists, six points and seven rebounds. Guldager led the team with eight rebounds.

"I thought all the kids stepped up considering the things this team's been through: losing four players, including three starters, all to knees [injuries]," Tappmeyer said.

The Ospreys missed their injured teammates when they faced A-Sun regular season champion Belmont University for the final game of the season.

Senior guards Tamara Hubbard, Cecilia Woolfolk and Andrews were each recognized before their final game with the Ospreys. Andrews was the only senior able to play with Hubbard and Woolfolk benched with injuries.

The senior finished the season and her collegiate basketball career leading the Ospreys with 12 points, three assists and two steals.

Belmont's Jessica Bobbitt and Amber Rockwell took advantage of UNF's 33 percent shooting and shared a game high of 14 points each.

Belmont led the game from the beginning, leading 37-25 at the half. The lead increased during the rest of the game to as many as 28 points, with Belmont eventually taking the game 68-43.

Moore finished with nine points and six rebounds while Windham put up eight points in 25 minutes against Belmont.

Bowen, who finished with seven points, four rebounds and three steals, said the team played hard for its seniors despite the loss.

"We wanted to go out there and play for the seniors and leave everything out there on the floor for them," Bowen said. "We'll really miss them."

The Ospreys finished the season 8-21 overall and 7-11 in the Atlantic Sun.

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Ospreys lead Kennel Classic

By Scott Dye
CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Rebecca Daly

Senior catcher Brandon Diaz scored a run against Florida A&M March 3, as the Ospreys won 9-5 in their second game against the Rattlers.

The University of North Florida baseball team returned to Jacksonville March 2 to kickoff the 2007 Kennel Club Classic, a series against teams across the nation including the University of Western Michigan and Florida A&M University.

The Ospreys proved the friendly confines of Harmon Stadium were exactly what they needed to break out of some early season struggles, winning three consecutive games in the classic.

North Florida (5-9) slugged its way to a 17-15 victory over Florida A&M University March 1, won a 2-1 pitchers' duel against Bethune-Cookman College March 2, and closed out the weekend with a 9-5 win over FAMU March 3.

Game one

The Ospreys pounded out 17 runs against the FAMU Rattlers.

Senior first baseman Jimmy Glanville ended his batting slump and led the attack, going 3-for-3 with five RBIs, including a three-run homerun in the seventh inning.

"It feels good to help the team win," Glanville said. "I've been working hard at practice in the batting cage."

Freshman left-hander John Atteo picked up his first career save with a crucial ninth inning, bases-loaded strikeout to end a Rattlers rally attempt. Junior right-hander Travis Martin (2-0) pitched six innings in the victory.

Game two

With pitcher Brad Johnson (2-2) on the hill against Bethune-Cookman, the Wildcat offense was held to the bare minimum. The senior left-hander allowed only one run on three hits in his complete game effort. The Ospreys trailed the Wildcats until the bottom of the eighth inning.

Senior left fielder Damon Olinto started the winning rally with a single. He scored when shortstop Mycal Jones drew a bases-loaded walk to tie the score. Second baseman Chad Knight gave the Ospreys the lead after bringing senior Jon Dandridge in to score.

"You don't always have to score a bunch of runs to win," Johnson said. "We just scored enough at the right time."

Game three

North Florida kept things rolling against FAMU, scoring five runs in the first inning. Starting pitcher Derek Bell (1-0) threw six innings for the Ospreys, allowing only three earned runs.

Sophomore center fielder Brian Wilson went 3-for-3 at the plate with an RBI-filled performance. Freshman outfielder TJ Thompson also contributed to the Osprey win with a fourth inning solo home run, the first of his college career.

Sophomore right-hander Tyler Stohr earned his first career save, closing out the game with three scoreless innings.

"I think we're starting to turn things around," Johnson said. "Our young guys are catching up to the speed of college baseball."

North Florida will face The Ohio State University March 9 and the University of Connecticut March 10.

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Men advance record after earning 6-1 win

Rebecca Daly

Sophomore Javier Ferrin won 6-3, 6-3 at the No. 3 spot against South Carolina State University. The Ospreys won 6-1 over the Bulldogs, recording their sixth win in eight matches.

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30 years and running

Ospreys participate in the celebrated city race

By Megan Fee
CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Dozens of students and athletes will join 14,000 people in the streets of downtown Jacksonville March 10 for the 30th annual Gate River Run.

Hosted by the Jacksonville Track Club, the 15K race is home to thousands of runners along with spectators, live bands at every mile, and free beer at a giant after-party. The Gate River Run has been named one of the top U.S. Road Races for the past 20 years by Runner's World Magazine.

The race began in 1978, with students and athletes from the University of North Florida joining in the event each year.

Keeping with the past, several women's soccer players, who are seeking to keep in shape during the off-season, are running the 9.3 miles through downtown Jacksonville.

Seniors Jessica Eriksen, Lisa Taylor and Maegen Pearce are three players who have been training both mentally and physically over the past months.

Taylor began training several weeks ago. She started with a three-mile route almost daily and has gradually been increasing distance. On the Saturday before the race, Taylor planned to run a seven-mile stretch to get her ready for her 9.3-mile goal. After a tough Saturday, she plans to cross-train to keep loose for the week before the race.

For junior nursing major Amanda Davis, the Gate River Run is simply her motivation to get back in shape.

"I need a goal to keep motivated," she said. "The race has a daily schedule that helps to get ready, one that I can plan into my day to make sure I will run. Without the plan and goal of running a 9.3 mile race, I probably wouldn't be running daily."

The former avid runner wanted to get back into shape, but between school and work at the UNF Arena, she has been unable to do so. She has been following The Florida Times-Union's five-week plan printed in the Lifestyle section every Monday to increase her endurance. Following this written, structured plan will allow her to reach her goal, she said.

Eriksen also agreed that finishing the Gate River Run will be a huge accomplishment.

"When I finish I am going to be so happy," she said. "I don't like running and haven't been able to since I graduated from the team this season. Running the 9.3 miles will be like a marathon to me."

The race is not limited to Jacksonville residents. College students from outside northeast Florida will also join the Ospreys, including Patrice Kennedy, a student at Santa Fe Community College in Gainesville.

Kennedy heard about the race and started preparing in Gainesville. Unable to run over the Jacksonville bridges, she took to the University of Florida football stadium to build up endurance, she said.

The 15K run begins at 8:30 a.m. at the Jacksonville Fairgrounds. The runners begin over the Main Street Bridge and run along the scenic St. Johns River for close to seven miles. The final two-mile stretch takes them across the Hart Bridge, to finish back at the fairgrounds.

A 5K run/walk is also part of the event. This race begins at 8 a.m. It is a non-competitive event and will not be timed. The proceeds from the race go directly to a variety of local charities.

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Sports Editor Holli Welch contributed to the report.