With two leading seniors – two more than last year – and a killer defense, the UNF women’s basketball team has high hopes for this season, said head coach Mary Tappmeyer.

“I’m really excited,” said Tappmeyer, who will enter her 18th year coaching the team. “I think we have some great young players that are really working hard.”

As the Bethune-Cookman University and Florida State University games draw near, sophomore point gaurd JulieMay Syquio has a lot of preparation to do, she said.

“Last year I came off the bench, and now I have to step up,” Syquio said. “It’s more mentally trying to prepare myself for that challenge.”

The two seniors, guard Jennifer Bowen and forward Jennifer Guldager, said this year they are excited about having a rejuvenated team with a really good spirit.

“[As a team,] we hang out together and like to have fun,” Guldager said. “Our chemistry off the court will definitely help on the court.”

The chemistry and hard-working team members are really helping and will benefit the team in future games this season, Bowen said.

Tappmeyer would like to see the team improve on a daily basis and again be the best defensive team in the conference, like they were last year, she said.

“We were 16th in the country in Division I, so we want to meet that goal again,” Tappmeyer said.

The Sun Trust River City Rumble and Lady Osprey Holiday Classic are just two tournaments the Ospreys are participating in. And the team hopes to be more productive on the offense, Tappmeyer said.

Last year, the Ospreys had a contagious energy and strong defense, Guldager said.

“We just want to keep the same intensity we had last year and stay really good defensively,” Guldager said. “We’re going to go out with a bang. We’re not fearing anything from the upcoming teams. It’s just us trying to put everything together.”

The Ospreys open the season against the Seminoles Nov. 18 at 7 p.m., and they hope to dominate with a powerful defense and an improving offense, Guldager said.

“We’re more worried about our team rather than other teams,” Bowen said.

Since UNF has a young team and other teams are returning with a lot of experience, Tappmeyer and her high-spirited team of hard working players are excited to get the season rolling, she said.

E-mail Heather Furey at sports@unfspinnaker.com.