LAKELAND - The Moccasins took charge of this one early and rolled to their 11th straight win, an 88-72 Sunshine State Conference decision over Florida Tech here Saturday night at Jenkins Field House.
Florida Tech had its only lead of the game at 7-6 with a little less than three minutes gone and it lasted just 19 seconds. Chelsea Johnson's three-pointer with 17:00 left in the first half gave the Moccasins a lead they never relinquished. They led 41-31 at halftime and the Panthers never got closer than seven in the second half.
The win boosts the Moccasins' record to 11-1, 2-0 SSC, giving them their best season start since the 1992-93 team won its first 16 games of that season. Florida Tech dropped to 7-5, 0-2 SSC.
Megan Dzikas, who had scored a season-low three points in Wednesday night's win over New York Tech, notched her fourth 20-point game of the season with a 21-point performance that included five three-pointers. Chelsea Johnson scored 19 points and connected on four three-pointers, raising her career total to 178, just three away from becoming the FSC career leader in three-pointers made. Nicolle DiRaimo picked up her second double-double of the season with an 18-point, 11-rebound effort and added a season-high six assists. Michaela Hawley also scored 18 points.
Lynisha Nelson led Florida Tech with 28 points and delivered seven assists in the loss.
The Moccasins take on Eckerd Wednesday night at 5:30 at Jenkins Field House. The game will be broadcast live on the internet on SportsLine Radio Network (SLRN).
