Box Score
LAKELAND - Florida Southern opened a five-game homestand here Saturday afternoon by suffering a 70-53 setback to Palm Beach Atlantic in non-conference action at Jenkins Field House.
The loss dropped the Moccasins to 4-4 on the season, while PBA improved to 4-9 on the year. In addition, the setback snapped FSC's four-game winning streak against non-conference foes.
FSC, who trailed 35-19 at the half, used a 12-6 run over a span of nearly five minutes in the second half to cut a 12-point deficit to six points following a lay-up and ensuing free throw by sophomore forward Mariah Harris (Gainesville, Fla.) with 5:35 left in the game. Harris' three-point play made the score 55-49 and capped a five point flurry by the 5-foot-11 forward, who finished with 11 points and added a career-high tying 14 rebounds in posting her second double-double of the season.
Following Harris' scoring spree, the Sailfish, who are now 2-6 this year against Sunshine State Conference as they also own a 74-51 win over Lynn, outscored FSC, 15-4 over the final five minutes of the game to earn the win and snap its season-high five-game losing skid.
PBA's win was aided by 27 Moccasin turnovers that were turned into 28 points, including scoring 17 of their 35 first half points off of 14 FSC turnovers.
The Sailfish jumped out to a 15-5 lead in the game's opening six minutes and led 23-9 following a lay-up by Becki Meerbeek with 10:33 left in the first half. After Harris scored on a jumper to drop the Mocs deficit to 23-11, PBA scored three straight points to push its lead to 26-11 with 7:52 left in the half.
FSC, though, would respond with back-to-back baskets from freshmen forwards Laura Hackett (Venice, Fla.) and Christin Strawbridge (Lakeland, Fla.) to pull within 26-15. The Sailfish's lead would grow to as much as 17 points at 32-15, before the Mocs scored four of the first half's final seven points.
The Mocs would mount a comeback in the second half as they scored seven of the first nine points of the second half to pull within 37-26 following a three-pointer by sophomore guard Ali Sanders (Sleepy Hollow, Ill.). After PBA's Taylor Buchanan hit two free throws to push the Sailfish's lead to 39-26, the Mocs scored five straight points capped by a free throw from sophomore guard Sydni Payne (Conyers, Ga.) to drop PBA's lead to 39-31 with 14:25 remaining.
PBA would answer with a 10-6 run to push its lead out to 12 points at 49-37 following a lay-up by Kasie Parker with 9:55 left. Payne would answer Parker's lay-up with a 3-pointer just 19 seconds later and Sanders would score on a lay-up with 9:14 left to push the Mocs within seven points at 49-42.ÂÂ
Sanders led the way offensively for the Mocs as she finished with 19 points, including going 7-for-10 from the free throw line. Sanders scored 13 of her 19 points in the second half to help the Mocs rally.
Strawbridge finished with eight points and five rebounds, while senior forward Morgan Lamberg (Mukwonago, Wis.) finished with 10 rebounds as the Mocs held a 45-37 edge on the glass. That rebound advantage helped to Mocs finish with a 17-5 edge in second chance points.
Parker led the way for the Sailfish as she scored 30 points, including 18 of them in the first half. In addition to Parker, Green finished with a double-double as she had 10 points and pulled down 15 rebounds in the win. Kimmie McIntosh and Alecha Gibbs each scored eight points for PBA.
The Sailfish held FSC's leading scorer, junior guard Cashala Thompson (Tucson, Ariz.) scoreless as she shot 0-for-5 from long distance on the day. Thompson entered the game averaging 10.7 points per game and hitting 2.9 treys per game, which was second-best in the league. It was the first time this year Thompson was held scoreless.
FSC finished the game shooting 34 percent from the field, but shot just 21 percent (3-for-14) from the 3-point line. The Mocs entered the game second in the league and 18th nationally in 3-point shooting at 38.8 percent.
The Sailfish shot 39 percent from the field and 28 percent from the 3-point line in the win and they finished with just 10 turnovers.
Saturday's game featured a combined 45 free throws as PBA was 17-for-26 (65 percent) from the line and the Mocs were 14-for-19 (74 percent) at the line.
FSC will continue its homestand next weekend as they host three other teams for its annual Terrace Hotel Classic. The Mocs will open the two-day event on Friday, Dec. 20 against Quincy (Ill.) at 1 p.m., before facing Fayetteville State on Saturday, Dec. 21 at 1 p.m. Tampa is the other team in the event as they will play Fayetteville State on Friday at 3 p.m. and Quincy (Ill.) on Saturday at 3 p.m.
