LAKELAND - With senior Nicolle DiRaimo setting the tone on Senior Night, the Lady Mocs finished the regular season with an impressive 75-59 win over Nova Southeastern Saturday night at Jenkins Field House.
The win gives the Moccasins a 19-8 overall record and a 9-7 mark in the Sunshine State Conference. It's the most wins the Moccasins have had in their four years under coach Jarrod Olson and earns them fourth place and a home game in the first round of the SSC Tournament Wednesday night. They'll take on Lynn at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday.
DiRaimo tied the FSC single-game rebound record with 21 and scored 14 points to post her seventh double-double of the season. Her 21 rebounds tied the mark previously set by Antonia Newman in 2001 and Sue Kirkwood in 1979. Michaela Hawley also recorded a double-double, her seventh of the season, with 17 points and 12 rebounds. She was 11-of-12 from the free throw line. Megan Dzikas scored 17 points and Chelsea Johnson added 15, as the Moccasins improved their home record to 12-2.
The Moccasins never trailed against the Sharks, owning a 44-31 lead at halftime and keeping the lead in double digits the rest of the game.
FSC and Lynn split their regular season games, with the Moccasins winning 76-58 at Jenkins Field House Jan. 16 and Lynn winning 97-96 in triple overtime Feb. 13 at Lynn. The other first round SSC pairings for Wednesday will have eighth-seeded Nova Southeastern at top-seeded Tampa, seventh-seeded Florida Tech at second-seeded Rollins and sixth-seeded Saint Leo at third-seeded Barry. The winners Wednesday night will advance to the semifinals Saturday at Nova Southeastern.
