Box Score
WEST PALM BEACH â€" An early collection of 3-point field goals gave Florida Southern a lead right out of the gate, and the Moccasins used their typical defense to make sure the score never really got close after that. With senior Kirstin McIntyre, junior Taylor Maldonado and senior Alexis Hochstetler all reaching double figures in points, and Hochstetler helping the Mocs dominate the glass, Florida Southern downed Palm Beach Atlantic, 68-42 Saturday afternoon.
The Moccasins (4-3), who have now won four in a row, started the game with 3-pointers from senior Tracy Fosterling (Albuquerque, NM), Maldonado (Stroudsburg, PA) and Hochstetler (Sarasota, FL) in the first 3½ minutes, with McIntyre (Hopewell Junction, NY) hitting a jumper during the early assault as well. That staked the Moccasins to an 11-4 lead and allowed them to lead from start to finish.
Palm Beach Atlantic (1-5) for as close as six points on two different occasions after that, the second time with nine minutes to play in the first half. The Mocs turned the game into a rout though by out-scoring the Sailfish 17-4 to end the half with PBA going 1-for-11 from the field and committing six turnovers during that stretch. Senior Melanie Ducott (North Lauderdale, FL) had two steals that led to four points and scored two of the 17 points herself, while McIntyre and junior Morgan Lamberg (Mukwanago, WI) each had four points during the run.
After holding a 37-18 lead at the break, the Mocs pushed their lead to 20 early in the second half, and it never fell below that for the final 18½ minutes. They shot 52 percent in the half (12-for-23), with Maldonado scoring 10 points and going 4-for-5. Freshman Mariah Harris (Gainesville, FL) had six points and six rebounds, and McIntyre also had six points while making all three of her second-half field goal attempts.
Florida Southern finished with a 51-21 edge in rebounding, with Hochstetler and Harris out-rebounding the Sailfish by themselves. Hochstetler had a career-high 12 boards and Harris pulled down 10, the best total of her young career too. The Mocs also forced 21 turnovers and turned them into 27 points while limiting PBA to 31 percent field goal shooting. PBA also made just one 3-pointer in 12 attempts from long range. It was the fourth straight game in which an opponent shot 33 percent or less from the floor, coinciding with Florida Southern’s 4-game winning streak.
McIntyre and Maldonado each scored 14 for Florida Southern, and Hochstetler had 11 points to go along with her game-high 12 rebounds.
Lynsey Poole was the only member of the Sailfish to reach double figures with 10 points, going 4-for-8 from the field.
Florida Southern will be off for a little over a week before playing its home opener on Tuesday, December 18 against North Alabama. That game, scheduled for 3:15, will also be the first of the Terrace Hotel Classic.
