GAME DAY INFORMATION
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DATE: Jan. 4, 2024
TIME: 7:00 PM |
LOCATION: UNF Arena
Jacksonville, Fla. |
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GAME DAY LINK
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LIVE STATS
LIVE VIDEO
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THE LEAD
Following the holiday break, the Hatters retook the Edmunds Center last Saturday to host the Flagler Saints as they picked up their fifth victory of the season and third win in their last four games. Stetson now heads to the University of North Florida to begin conference play on Thursday night for the first game of the new year. Tip-off against the Ospreys is scheduled for 7:00 PM on Thursday, Jan. 4 at the UNF Arena in Jacksonville.
INSIDE THE SERIES
This will be the 38th time that these two programs will meet as the Hatters hold a 24-13 series advantage. While Stetson has dominated at home with a 14-4 record, they narrowly lead in the series on the road with a 10-9 record. The series dates back to Jan. 19, 2006 when the Ospreys took the inaugural game by the score off 61 to 55. Recent times have favored the Hatters, however, as they look to extend a five game win streak that includes their last outing, a 65-51 win on Feb. 2, 2023.
SCOUTING THE HATTERS (5-9, 0-0 ASUN)
Stetson approaches the weekend with an overall record of 5-9 after winning their last game at home against Flagler on Saturday, marking their third win in their last four games. Stetson looks to pick up their first win away from the Edmunds Center as they enter conference play against UNF.
Leading the Hatters on offense in their last game was
Jamiya Turner, who finished the game tying a season-high 20 points on 7-of-15 shooting as she racked up 10+ points for the sixth time this season. Among her points in the game was her 1,000th career point as a Hatter, just days after passing the 500 career rebound mark. The redshirt-senior also pulled in a season-high 12 rebounds to register her first double-double of the season while also recording five assists.
Also finishing with a double-double was sophomore forward
Jaelyn Talley. Talley, who shot 6-of-10 from the field, tied a season-high with 15 points while snatching 11 boards. While it was her first double-double of the season, she has reached 10+ rebounds in three games and double-figure scoring in five.
Off the bench,
Quentarra Mitchell racked up 12 points on 4-of-9 shooting while hitting all four of her free throws.The graduate forward reeled in five rebounds in the team's effort to outrebound the Saints. When logging 20+ minutes, Mitchell has reached double-figures in three of five games.
So far this season, the offensive output for Stetson has been fronted by Turner, who maintains a team-leading 162 points, 11.6 per game. Turner showcases a 44.1 percent shooting accuracy from the field (64 of 145) and a 75.6 percent from the free-throw line, seventh highest in the ASUN.
Jordan Peete, with 12 starts this season, averages 8.9 points per game, making a team-high 15 of 56 shots from beyond the arc.
McNeal and Kunzwiler have been a key piece in the rotation as they average 8.8 and 7.0 points. The duo has been a threat from beyond the arc, combining for 27-of-97 from three-point range, 13 of which have come from the freshman sharpshooter.
Promise Keshi leads the team in steals, contributing 19 steals, 16th most in the conference. Kunzwiler has recorded five blocks, second-most on the team, trailing freshman forward
Sophia Fontaine's six blocks.
Talley has excelled on the glass, leading the Hatters with 102 total rebounds, 7.3 per game. Her 54 offensive rebounds rank second-most in the ASUN and she ranks third most in total boards.
Skylar Treadwell has pulled in 78 rebounds on the season after grabbing 21 against High Point earlier this season.
As a team, Stetson averages 58.5 points per game, as opposed to a conference fourth fewest average points allowed (61.1), on 306-842 shooting from the field (36.2%) and 62-274 from three-point range. They exhibit a conference fourth-best free-throw percentage of 69 percent (147-213) and boast an ASUN second-most 528 total rebounds, 37.7 rebounds per game. Stetson has forced opponents into 238 turnovers and capitalized on them with 13.0 points off turnovers.
SCOUTING THE OSPREYS (6-8, 0-0 ASUN)
North Florida currently holds a record of 6-8, sitting seventh place in the ASUN Conference standings, most recently picking up a 76-71 overtime win over Florida A&M last Friday to get their fourth win in five games, the one loss coming to #12/16 Kansas State.
In the 2023-24 Preseason Coaches' Poll, the coaches selected UNF 11th in the poll with 33 points after finishing the prior season with a 4-13 conference record. The were selected 7th in the media poll with 234 points and two votes for first.
Looking to build off of a 7-20 finish last season, the Ospreys average 69.4 points per game and have outscored their opponents by an average of 1.5 points.
As a team, they have a shooting percentage of 42.6 percent from the field (368-864) and 31.9% from beyond the arc (120-376). The Ospreys are rebounding at an average of 36.8 per game and distributing 14.3 assists.
On the defensive end, they allow opponents to shoot 43.2 percent from the field (360-833) and 30.3 percent from three-point range (74-244), 10th and 5th in the ASUN. The defense has also forced 235 turnovers, scoring 18.7 points off them, while tallying 117 steals and 20 blocks.
Redshirt-Senior guard Lyric Swann, a preseason All-ASUN selection, has started 11 games in 14 appearances and averages 11.3 points per game. She has made a team-high 57 field goals including 30 from beyond the arc. Swann is also averaging 3.2 rebounds per game while assisting on 21 baskets.
Junior guard Kaila Rougier leads the team with 11.5 points per game after dropping 20 points in the win over the Rattlers. Rougier has also tallied 27 assists while making a team-high 30 free throws. The junior guard also leads the defense with 23 steals.
Graduate guard Jayla Adams leads the team in passing with 55 assists while averaging 9.5 points per game. On the glass, fellow graduate Emma Broermann leads the team with 5.8 rebounds per contest while averaging 8.6 points. The forward tallied 18 points and eight rebounds in their last outing.
NEXT UP
Stetson will stay in the River City as they take on the Jacksonville Dolphins during their road trip on Saturday, Jan. 6. Tip-off for that game is currently scheduled for 2:00 PM at Swisher Gymnasium with all the action on ESPN+.
