MOCS ARE SSC CHAMPS!

Mission accomplished!  They were picked to win the Sunshine State Conference title in the SSC preseason poll and Wednesday night, against arch-rival Tampa, the Moccasins did just that, posting a come-from-behind 73-70 victory to claim their first league crown since the 2004-05 season and the first for coach Jarrod Olson.

With four players scoring in double figures, the Moccasins overcame an eight-point halftime deficit to win a game that went down to the final buzzer.  Fittingly, it was senior Chelsea Johnson, on Senior Night, who clinched it with a pair of free throws with five seconds left.  Johnson, who moved into third place on the FSC career scoring list with 1,895 points, led FSC with 21 points.  Emma Cannon, held to just three points and four rebounds in the first half, had a strong second half and finished with 15 points and 11 rebounds for her 17th double-double of the season and her ninth in a row.  Michaela Hawley also posted a double-double with a 20-point/11-rebound effort and Megan Dzikas tossed in 15 points.  Lindsey Watson led Tampa with 23 points.

After the first half, it looked the Moccasins might have to postpone their plans for a victory celebration.  Tampa shot 55.6% from the field, while FSC shot just 26.5%, and the Spartans, led by 12 points from Watson, led the entire first half.

Tampa quickly expanded its lead to 11 points on Taja Green's three-pointer to start the second half, but the Spartan lead soon began to dwindle.  By the midway point of the period, the Moccasins completed a 21-9 run with a layup from Hawley to put FSC ahead for the first time 50-49 with 10:27 left.  Tampa re-gained the lead briefly on a pair of free throws by Gianna Messina, but Johnson's three-pointer at the 8:24 mark put the Moccasins on top to stay, 53-51. 

The Moccasin lead grew to 10 points with 3:16 remaining, but Tampa (19-6, 11-4 SSC) had one final surge left that got the Spartans as close as 69-67 with 34 seconds remaining.  Johnson's layup with 11 seconds left put the Moccasins up by four.  After Messina hit a three-pointer to make it 71-70, Johnson was fouled and sank both free throws, improving her free throw percentage in 15 SSC game to 95.9% (47-49).  Tampa did manage to get off a long desparation shot at the buzzer that was off target.

With the win, the Moccasins (21-4, 13-2 in the SSC) will be the top seed in the SSC Women's Tournament and will play a first-round game next Wednesday night at home at 5:30 against an opponent to be determined, most likely Barry, after all of the regular season SSC games are completed Saturday.

The Moccasins, who moved into the national rankings at No. 25 this week and who are ranked third in the latest South Region poll, finish the regular season Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. against Nova Southeastern at Ft. Lauderdale.