MIAMI SHORES - Chelsea Johnson scored 12 of her team-high 21 points in the final six minutes, as the Moccasins held off a late Barry charge to post a 68-60 Sunshine State Conference road win here Saturday.
The win was the Moccasins' sixth straight and gave them a win in their SSC opener for the first time since the 2005-06 season. It also was career coaching win number 50 at Florida Southern for coach Jarrod Olson.
With the Moccasins leading 54-49 with 6:10 remaining, Johnson scored FSC's next 10 points to put the FSC up 64-54 at the 3:09 mark. Barry then rallied for six unanswered points to trim the margin to 64-60 with 35 seconds left. After Tanja Speaker was fouled and made one of two free throws, Johnson stole the ball on Barry's next possession, was fouled and sank two free throws with 12 seconds left to ice the game. With her 21 points, Johnson moved into the top ten on FSC's career scoring list. She now ranks ninth with 1,197 points.
Michaela Hawley added 19 points and a team-high eight rebounds, but perhaps equally as important, she avoided her fifth foul after getting her fourth with 6:55 left in the game. She didn't score in the final 6:55, but grabbed two rebounds, delivered an assist and picked up a steal. Megan Dzikas scored eight points, had six rebounds and six assists.
Mariesa Greene led Barry with 31 points and 11 rebounds, but no one else had more than 10 points for the Buccaneers.
The Moccasins outscored Barry 17-5 from the free throw line and forced 21 Barry turnovers, while committing just 13 themselves.
The Moccasins return to action Saturday with a 3 p.m. game at Palm Beach Atlantic.
