Monday, November 10, 2008

11 Days of A-Sun Women's Basketball ventures back to Jacksonville, Fla., for a preview of the UNF Lady Ospreys. The Lady Ospreys finished 2007-08 with a 13-16 record and 8-8 in the A-Sun, both records for the program at the Division I level.

The Lady Osprey’s featured the top defense in the A-Sun a year ago, holding opponents to a league low 55.1 ppg and 37.1 percent shooting from the field.

Last season, JulieMay Syquio was the only freshman in the conference to average better than two assists and two steals per game. The leading returner in both categories for the Ospreys dished out 2.7 assists and tallied 2.3 thefts per contest.

Coach Mary Tappmeyer on the Ospreys

Team Page

Roster

Schedule

2007-08 Statistics

SEASON PREVIEW - (Courtesy UNF Media Relations)

It is no secret that steady improvement leads to steady success. Throughout the University of North Florida’s reclassification into NCAA Division I, the Lady Osprey basketball team has made strides during all three seasons, and head coach Mary Tappmeyer expects her team to continue to rise during the 2008-09 season.

“I really like this team,” Tappmeyer said. “Our returners worked hard during the off-season and it shows. There are a lot of players that want to compete at the collegiate level, but this group wants to play and improve in and out of season.”

Leading that returning group are two tried and true seniors who will be at the helm for the second-straight season. The “two Jens” – Jennifer Bowen and Jennifer Guldager – have been a part of the Lady Osprey family since the 2004-05 season, the first year of UNF’s transition into Division I.

“Our whole program now has a Division I mentality,” Tappmeyer said. “Over the past three years, we have learned what it takes to be successful on the big stage, and our seniors are a big part of that. They are the heart and soul of this team, and the transition has been so much easier because of them.”

This season’s seniors will not have a chance at participating in an Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament but certainly would not mind capping their careers with an A-Sun regular season title. Bowen led the 2007-08 squad with 10.1 points per game while Guldager topped the rebounding list with a 6.7 average.

Last season, UNF enjoyed its highest win total since joining the Division I ranks, finishing with a 13-16 overall record and an 8-8 record in league play. The Lady Ospreys’ .500 mark in A-Sun play is the team’s best winning percentage since joining the conference three seasons ago. Finishing sixth in the A-Sun standings in 2007-08, UNF would have qualified for its third-straight conference tournament, if it were not ineligible due to NCAA reclassification.

In 2008-09, a group of talented newcomers will need to make an early splash to complement the returning core. Arlande Cherizol, a junior transfer from Broward College is the only upperclassman addition and will bring added rebounding prowess to the team. Cherizol led the NJCAA last season, averaging 15.2 rebounds per game. She will join Guldager, who ranked seventh in the A-Sun in rebounding last season, and junior Shennette Sheffield, who ranked 18th in the league with 5.1 boards per game, on UNF’s glass-cleaning crew.

UNF led the league in scoring defense last season, allowing 55.1 points per game, but brought up the rear in scoring offense, managing a little less than 51 points per contest. This season, two incoming, long-range threats should boost the Lady Osprey attack. Redshirt freshman Rachelle Rasley and true freshman Jadhken Kerr each possess long-distance capability and will alleviate defensive pressure from Bowen.

Redshirt freshman Kim Baker has a season of practice at the collegiate level and an understanding of the difficulties that traveling can present. Kayla Mobley and Brittany Kirkland also join the Lady Ospreys for their 2008-09 freshman campaigns, and will compete for quality minutes early in the season.

“Everyone is on the same page and buys into her role,” Tappmeyer said. “This group of newcomers will have the opportunity to vie for playing time and I expect them to be significant contributors.”

The early opportunity to impress will come in the team’s home opener against Florida State on Nov. 18, just four days after UNF opens its 2008-09 slate at Bethune-Cookman. After battling the Seminoles, the Lady Ospreys have only two games before opening A-Sun play at home on Dec. 4 against Lipscomb.

“Hosting such a big game right as the season begins is very exciting for us,” Tappmeyer said. “Hopefully, we’ll have a great atmosphere and it will help our young players mature quickly since we will have just four games before we start our A-Sun schedule.”

Conference play will create a rough road routine for the UNF squad and make the team fight to finish the season higher than it was tabbed in the preseason polls, which it has done for the past two seasons. Picked to finish seventh and eighth in the preseason coaches’ and media polls, respectively, the Lady Ospreys are the only school in the league with three Monday games on the road. Six A-Sun doubleheaders at UNF Arena should help rejuvenate the team.

“It’s going to be very challenging to be on the road so much for Monday games,” Tappmeyer said. “I am happy with the number of doubleheaders we have at home, though. It will be a great opportunity for the fans to come see both the men’s and women’s teams compete and the hard work we put forth in trying to be successful.”

The Lady Ospreys will look for a successful two-week, non-conference run beginning in mid-December. UNF visits South Florida on Dec. 14, before hosting the Lady Osprey Holiday Classic for the second-straight year. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, Longwood and Jacksonville State will participate in the two-day tournament, which begins on Dec. 17. The Lady Ospreys will go north for their winter break to take part in Lehigh’s tournament on Dec. 29 and 30. LaSalle and Valparaiso will also participate.

The first A-Sun road trip of the season takes UNF to USC Upstate (Jan. 3) and East Tennessee State (Jan. 5). The Lady Ospreys then open a three-game homestand against Kennesaw State on Jan. 8. The homestand continues with Mercer visiting on Jan. 10, and closes with a SunTrust River City Rumble game against Jacksonville on Jan. 15.

“I think that ETSU and Kennesaw State are the favorites in the league, and JU will be in contention as well,” Tappmeyer said. “With the youth of the conference and the good recruiting that was done, I feel like the rest of the standings are up for grabs.” A three-game road trip to Campbell (Jan. 19), Stetson (Jan. 22) and Florida Gulf Coast (Jan. 24) precedes home contests against USC Upstate (Jan. 29) and ETSU (Jan. 31). UNF will play its first February game at Mercer (Feb. 5) before visiting Kennesaw State (Feb. 7).

UNF Arena will host a Valentine’s Day WBCA Pink Zone game against Campbell two days before the Lady Ospreys travel to face cross-town rival Jacksonville in the second SunTrust River City Rumble contest.

“With 20 conference games this season, there are a lot of factors that will decide the final standings,” Tappmeyer said. “Injuries, travel and overall team fatigue are just a few of the elements that each team will face when the season starts to wind down.”

UNF’s season will near its end when the Lady Ospreys host their final two home games of the season – matchups against FGCU (Feb. 19) and Stetson (Feb. 21). The season will come to a close with a two-game stint in Nashville, Tenn., where the Lady Ospreys will battle Belmont (Feb. 26) and Lipscomb (Feb. 28).

GUARD

An all-freshman selection last season, sophomore Juliemay Syquio will take the reigns as point guard this season after splitting time at the controls last season. Syquio led the team in 2007-08 with 66 steals and was second in assists with 78. Her defensive ability improved over the summer through improved conditioning and work ethic.

“Juliemay has worked tremendously hard on her game over the summer and it will be a big advantage for us,” Tappmeyer said. “She is a dynamic point guard with incredible vision and the ability to find the open man.”

While Syquio’s youthful exuberance directs the offense, Bowen’s veteran knowledge will highlight the offense. Bowen has already established herself as one of the most prolific 3-ball shooters in UNF history. She netted 32 percent of her shots from downtown last season, but her play was limited due to a mid-season hand injury. She should be freed up for more open looks this season with the presence of the two new outside-shooting threats, Rasley and Kerr.

Rasley and Kerr have the ability to step in immediately and create havoc for opponents from beyond the arc or play at the forward position and stretch the defense. Rasley redshirted in 2007-08 due to a hand injury and will look to make up for lost time when she hits the court for her redshirt freshman campaign. Kerr will try to maintain her solid 40 percent three-point shooting average from high school.

“Our offensive production will make us a more exciting team to watch this season,” Tappmeyer said. “We’ve really expanded our capabilities, with four positions on the court being outside perimeter weapons.”

Baker and Kirkland will add depth to an already stout backcourt. Baker used her redshirt season to make the high school-to-college adjustment and learn the UNF program. She has become a more complete offensive player, which will complement her role as one of the team’s top defenders. Kirkland, a quick, competitive player with explosive leaping ability, is expected to see playing time at both guard spots.

“We’ve recruited more complete players which has given us more depth,” Tappmeyer said. “With all of our positions, especially at guard, opponents will not be able to defend each player at one position the same way. We have tried to build our depth with versatile players who have different strengths.”

FORWARD

In addition to several guards with the ability to play multiple positions, the Lady Ospreys feature several forwards with just as much versatility. Headlining the gifted group, Guldager started all 29 games last season. She will play primarily at forward but, thanks to an improved long-range jumper, can shift to a guard, if needed. Once again, she will be looked upon to provide lock-down defense on each opponent’s top player.

“Jennifer is the best defensive player on the team and has one of the best work ethics I have ever coached,” Tappmeyer said. “She is a true leader by example that strives to do everything to the best of her ability.”

Last season, sophomore Brittany Jones led the squad in shooting percentage (.484), and this season will spend more time facing the basket. Making the transition from power forward to small forward, Jones will cause difficult matchups for opponents once she completes the transition. Cherizol’s 2007-08 season saw her lead the nation in rebounding (NJCAA). Her speed and athleticism will make her a difficult matchup for many teams.

Mobley and redshirt freshman Liz Blue, a transfer from Presbyterian, can both play either post position, and both like to face the basket. While Blue’s scoring ability is strongest in the low post, Mobley expands the squad’s ability to shoot from the perimeter.

“We have a very athletic bunch of forwards, and this should be the best defensive area on the floor for us,” Tappmeyer said. ”They can all guard players in the post or on the perimeter.”

CENTER

Joining Guldager among the top of the league rankings in rebounds during the 2007-08 season, Sheffield wrapped up her sophomore season by scoring in double figures in four of the team’s final seven games and grabbing at least six rebounds in the final six. A vocal leader who led the team with 25 blocks last season, Sheffield is expected to begin the season with the same level of performance with which she capped last season.

When factoring in junior Willonda Windham, the Lady Ospreys end up with a pair of mobile centers that have the functionality to play the forward as well, but the two will likely strictly split time at center. Windham gained a new realization of what it takes to be successful at the collegiate level and is expected to be a strong scoring threat in the post this season. She should see more minutes this season after averaging 12.6 per game last year.

“They will both be low-post scoring presences and must be defended well,” Tappmeyer said. “We hope to take advantage of additional one-on-one situations on the blocks that should be created by our perimeter shooting.”

11 Days of A-Sun Basketball Schedule
Oct. 29 - Belmont
Oct. 30 - Campbell
Oct. 31 - ETSU
Nov.  3 - FGCU
Nov.  4 - Jacksonville
Nov.  5 - Kennesaw State
Nov.  6 - Lipscomb
Nov.  7 - Mercer
Nov. 10 - UNF
Nov. 11 - USC Upstate
Nov. 12 - Stetson