The University of North Florida men’s basketball team won its first-ever game against a Southeastern Conference opponent with their 74-71 opening-day victory over South Carolina on Nov. 4.
Two nights later, the UNF women’s team also set some program standards: a bunch of them.
The Ospreys’ 146-53 victory over Trinity Baptist at UNF Arena set school records for points, steals (28), field goals made (57), 3-pointers made (19) and most points in the first half (85).
Eight UNF players scored in double figures, led by senior guard Jazmine Spencer with 24 points, with 5 of 7 3-point attempts). Jamisyn Stinson, a freshman guard, had 22 points and made 6 of 13 3-pointers, sophomore guard Anja Elkstom had 20 points with 6 of 10 from beyond the arc and junior guard Helena Rafnsdottir had 18 points and six assists.
UNF led 42-13 at the end of the first quarter. The Ospreys had 72 points in the paint and 66 off turnovers.
Freshman guard Reniyah Clark led the Eagles with 21 points and nine rebounds.
Unfortunately for the Ospreys, they lost two road games on either side of the victory over Trinity. UNF fell to Florida State, 119-49, with Sarah Taub leading with 12 points. The Ospreys were then outscored 25-3 in the first quarter and never recovered in an 81-65 loss at Georgia Southern. Kaila Rougier led with 15 points.
Men’s roundup: Ospreys catch fire
North Florida (2-0): The Ospreys can change their shooting fortunes just like that. At halftime against Charleston Southern UNF was shooting 6 of 19 from beyond the arc. Led by graduate Liam Murphy, a transfer from Columbia, the Ospreys connected on 9 of 10 in the second half on their way to a 90-66 victory. Murphy made all four of his 3-point attempts and the team’s 51.7 shooting percentage on 3s was the best in 35 games, spanning back to the end of the 22-23 season. … UNF’s victory over the Gamecocks gives them a 3-84 record against teams from the current makeup of the SEC, ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, Big East and the old Pac-12. The Ospreys previously beat Illinois and Purdue.
Jacksonville (1-1): The Dolphins outrebounded the Florida Gators on Thursday 40-35 but couldn’t rally from Florida’s 64 percent shooting in the first half in the 80-61 loss. Junior guard Robert McCray V led JU with 20 points. Junior guard Zach Bell, who scored 11 in the 78-65 victory over Trinity to open the season on Nov. 4, also had 11 against UF.
Edward Waters (2-0): What a start for Paxon graduate Ja’Kobe Williams. The senior guard who transferred from Virginia Union led the Tigers to a pair of victories in the NCAA D2 South Regional Exempt Classic in Winter Park.
Williams came one assist shy of a triple-double when he had 11 points, 12 rebounds and one assist in an 80-75 overtime victory over host Rollins on Saturday. He missed a 3-point attempt at the buzzer in regulation but made 4 of 4 free throws in the final 40 seconds to keep EWU ahead after Prince Davies III (18 points) and Trevino Glover hit 3-pointers to put them ahead. The previous night, Williams had 20 points, six rebounds and six assists in the Tigers’ 73-65 victory over Florida Tech.
Flagler (2-0): The Saints won their first opening game since 2019 by beating Emory & Henry 87-75 in the first game of the Southeast Regional Crossover at Flagler Gym. Senior guard Destin Clark had 24 points and junior forward Jaylen Jordan of Hilliard had 18 points and 10 rebounds. … Jordan then notched a second double-double in a row on Saturday when he had 19 points and 17 rebounds in an 85-63 victory over Francis Marion. Clark had 21 points and Jax Bouknight had 17 points and six assists.
Women’s roundup: JU wins only game
Jacksonville (1-0): The Dolphins played only one game in the opening week and overcame a 19-16 first-quarter deficit to rout Edward Waters University 80-59 at Swisher Gym. Senior guard Edyn Battle, the ASUN’s leading scorer last season, had 22 points and graduate forward Makayla Edwards had 19 points and 13 rebounds. Junior guard Mia Morel led the Tigers with 16 points.
Edward Waters (1-1): The Tigers rebounded from their loss to JU by beating Johnson C. Smith 70-55. Senior guard E’laijha Brown had 20 points and junior guard Nekaya Williams added 16.
Flagler (1-1): Senior guard Sharale McCormick scored 19 points, freshman forward Abby Smith came off the bench for 16 and Flagler held Anderson to 0-for-15 on 3-point shots to win its opener 83-71. A day later, Destiny McClendon had points and Jazmine Major added 15 points and eight rebounds in an 80-73 loss to Virginia-Wise.
Trinity (0-3): The Eagles lost two other games in addition to UNF. Clark had 10 points and 11 rebounds in a 94-38 loss to Keiser and Emma Parrish had 17 points in a 67-43 loss to New College.
This week’s college basketball schedule
Men
Nov. 11
Spring Hill at Flagler, 7 p.m.
JU at Furman, 7 p.m.
Nov. 12
UNF at Georgia, 7 p.m.
Nov. 13
Voorhees at EWU, 7:30 p.m.
Trinity Baptist at Mercer, 7 p.m.
Nov. 14
Flagler at Embry-Riddle, 6 p.m.
South Carolina State at JU, 7 p.m.
Nov. 15
Edward Waters vs. Clayton State, 7:30 p.m. (Clayton State Classic)
Nov. 16
Edward Waters vs. Columbus State, 1 p.m. (Clayton State Classic)
Trinity Baptist at New College, 4 p.m.
Women
Nov. 11
JU at Miami, 7 p.m.
Nov. 12
Beacon College at Edward Waters, 11 a.m.
Clinton College at Trinity Baptist, 6 p.m.
Nov. 13
UNF at Florida Atlantic, 11 a.m.
Embry-Riddle at Flagler, 6 p.m.
Edward Waters at Stetson, 6:45 p.m.
JU at Florida International, 7 p.m.
Nov. 14
Trinity Baptist at Savannah State, 6 p.m.
Nov. 16
Florida Tech at Flagler, 2 p.m.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: North Florida women’s basketball sets scoring records against Trinity
