Box Score
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Florida Southern season opening seven-game road swing continued here Sunday afternoon as the Moccasins fell 70-57 to the University of District of Columbia in the final game of the Firebird Classic at the UDC Sports Complex.
Sunday's loss was the Mocs second in the tournament as they opened the two-day event with a 57-54 setback to Bowie State. The Mocs are now 0-3 on the young season.
In Sunday's game, the Mocs rode the play of senior forward Kirstin McIntyre (Hopewell Junction, N.Y.), who scored a game-high and FSC career-high 18 points and pulled down eight boards en route to being selected to the All-Tournament Team. At the tournament, McIntyre averaged 14.5 points and 8.0 rebounds per game and scored in double digits in both games.
The Mocs got off to a good start in Sunday's contest as they jumped out to a 14-9 lead just a little over four minutes into the game. The Firebirds, who improved to 2-3 on the season, used an 8-0 run to take a 17-14 lead with 10:52 left in the first half. A lay-up by McIntyre with 9:07 left gave the Mocs an 18-17 lead and held a 23-21 lead with 6:24 remaining, before UDC closed the half outscoring the Mocs, 13-5 to take a 34-28 lead at the half.
McIntyre scored nine of her 18 points in the first half, while senior guard Alexis Hochstetler (Sarasota, Fla.) scored seven points in the opening stanza.
The Mocs were able to keep the first half close despite committing 14 turnovers and shooting 42 percent from the field.
UDC, who went 1-1 at its own tournament, opened the second half on a 16-6 run to push its lead to as much as 16 points at 50-34 with 10:19 left in the game. During the run, the Mocs were held without a field goal for a little over four minutes as McIntyre scored on a lay-up with 14:27 left and then scored the Mocs next basket with 9:57 left on the clock. She was fouled on the lay-up and hit a free throw to push the Mocs within 50-37.
The Firebirds answered with a quick 9-5 scoring spurt to push its lead to 59-42 with 7:25 remaining in the game, before the Mocs used a 15-7 run to pull within 66-57 with 1:59 left in the game. The Mocs run was began with a lay-up by senior forward Tracy Fosterling (Albuquerque, N.M.) and capped by a three-pointer from junior guard Taylor Maldonado (Stroudsburg, Pa.).
UDC would seal its win by hitting four of five free throws in the final minute.
In addition to McIntyre, Fosterling added 11 points and freshman forward Mariah Harris (Gainesville, Fla.) tallied 12 points and five rebounds off the bench.
Janelle Junior led the way for UDC with 16 points, while Teara Shaw added 12 points and seven assists and Denikka Brent scored 10 points off the bench for the Firebirds.
For the game, the Mocs shot 42 percent from the field and 50 percent from the 3-point line, while UDC shot 43 percent from the field and 17 percent (3-for-18) from long distance. UDC outrebounded the Mocs, 36-32 and forced the Mocs into 24 turnvoers. UDC committed 13 turnovers in the game.
The Mocs will return to action on Friday, Nov. 23 as they travel to St. Petersburg, Fla., to face North Georgia in the opening game of the Eckerd Thanksgiving Classic. Tip-off is set for 1 p.m. Following the North Georgia game, the Mocs will face Puerto Rico-Bayamon on Saturday, Nov. 24 at 1 p.m. at the Eckerd Classic.
