The Ospreys lose a heartbreaker late in the fourth quarter to an aggressive Alabama A&M.

As the game began, Sophomore Jameica Cobb scored the first basket of the game on a three-pointer for the Bulldogs(4-5). At the first timeout, the Ospreys (4-5) were down 9-5 as the Bulldogs continued to bully their way inside. Junior Dasha Eremeeva found her stride and began making key jumpers and closed out defenders at the post. The Bulldogs were throwing the Ospreys a bone by making costly turnovers, adding insult to injury as they trailed 17-9 at the end of the first quarter.

The shots were flying as Alabama A&M kept attempting to nail down shots (18) but the hoop was playing small for them in the second quarter. It was a three party for the Ospreys as they made 3-6 shots from long range. The one similarity that both teams shared in the second quarter was turnovers, both teams combined for 10. At halftime, the Ospreys led 38-28. Eremeeva was perfect from the field (5-5) scoring 10 points and Junior Jazz Bond had eight points and pulled down five rebounds.

The Bulldogs began the second half by going on a 7-0 run. Junior Carnethia Brown tied the game up at 38 on a three-pointer. After both teams battled it out, the Ospreys maintained a five point lead, 52-47, at the end of the third quarter.  

Senior Kenya Pye nailed a three-pointer to regain the lead in the fourth quarter, 52-50, as the Bulldogs began to get the upper hand in the game. After a timeout with five minutes left in the game, the Bulldogs were up, 58-52. Layups by Senior Arianna Emanuel-Wright and Eremeeva pulled Ospreys within four. Eremeeva tied the game up at 60 on a layup and the game was anyone’s for the taking. Cobb’s jumper gave the Bulldogs a 62-60 lead and a foul shot later on made it a 63-60 game. Purifoy connected on a jumper to put the Ospreys within one with 11 seconds left in the game. The Ospreys had a chance to win the ballgame as Junior Adrienne Jackson stepped to the line to attempt two free throws with less than a second left. After missing both shots, the Bulldogs came out on top with a 63-62 win.

Coach Darrick Gibbs talked to Spinnaker about what allowed the Bulldogs to get the upper hand in the second half.

“They were more aggressive and we were passive.They attacked the offensive glass, ended up with 16 offensive rebounds and were more aggressive in passing lanes. We continued to make bad decisions on both ends of the floor and that hurts overall,” Gibbs said.

Eremeeva led the team in scoring with 18 points and recorded 7-8 shots from the field. Bond finished with 13 points and grabbed five rebounds.

Gibbs discussed Bond’s performance throughout the game.

“She was solid, I felt like she was a step slow in a lot of instances, especially on the defensive end. Jazz is still working her way in, getting in shape,” Gibbs said. “She’s been in double figures in both games she’s played. She adds a completely different dimension to our team.”

Eremeeva talked to Spinnaker about the importance of post presence when competing against the Bulldogs.

“Coach Gibbs always tells guards to give the pass to posts so I think guards really give a lot of good passes to posts and we try to score,” Eremeeva said.

The Ospreys match up with Warner on Friday, Dec. 21 at 2 p.m. in the final day of the UNF Holiday Classic.

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