Box Score
LAKELAND - Florida Southern used a strong defensive effort and career-high offensive nights from two of its freshmen en route to posting a 60-53 victory over Florida Tech in Sunshine State Conference play at Jenkins Field House.
Saturday's victory was keyed by a career-high 18 points from freshman guard Caitlin Lindsey (Port Charlotte, Fla.) and a career-high 15 points and 14 rebounds from fellow freshman forward Mariah Harris (Gainesville, Fla.). Harris and Lindsey combined to score 23 of FSC's 39 second-half points.
With the win, the Moccasins snapped its two-game losing skid and improved to 10-14 overall and 4-10 in the SSC, while Tech suffered its fourth straight loss to fall to 16-8 overall and 8-6 in the SSC.
For the game, FSC,who led 39-31 at the half, shot 43 percent from the field and 25 percent from the 3-point line and held a 49-41 edge on the glass. Tech finished the game shooting 30 percent from the field and 17 percent (4-for-24) from long distance.
Both teams struggled from the free throw line in the game as the Mocs shot 48 percent (20-for-42), while Tech shot 44 percent (11-for-25). In the second half, the Mocs shot 49 percent (18-for-37) from the line.
In the second half, FSC pushed its eight point halftime lead to 30-19 following a lay-up by Lindsey with about 16 minutes left in the contest. The Panthers, though, would use an 8-1 run to drop FSC's lead to 31-27 following a 3-pointer by Kayk Wilson. Wilson led the way for Tech with 22 points, including 17 in the second half.
The Mocs would regain some momentum as they used a 13-7 run over a span of nearly five-plus minutes to push its lead back to double digits at 44-34 following a fast break lay-up by senior guard Melanie Ducott (North Lauderdale, Fla.) Ducott finished the night with eight points, six rebounds and five assists in the win for the Mocs.
At the point, the Mocs struggles at the free throw line began to help aid Tech in its comeback as the Mocs made only 12 of its 24 free throws attempts in the final five minutes of the game.
With the Mocs struggles at the line, the Panthers began its comeback as they used a 19-12 run capped by a Wilson lay-up to pull within 56-53 with 51 seconds left in the game. All but one of Tech's 19 points during the run were scored by either Rita Acevedo (11 points) or Wilson (7 points).
Wilson led the way for the Panthers with 22 points, including 17 in the second half, while Acevedo added 19 points, nine boards and seven steals in the loss.
The lay-up by Wilson would be as close as the Panthers got in the game as Harris was fouled on the Mocs next possession and drilled two free throws to push FSC's lead to 58-53 with 46 seconds left. Neither team would score again until Lindsey sealed the victory with two more free throws with three seconds remaining.
In addition to Lindsey and Harris, senior forward Alexis Hochstetler (Sarasota, Fla.) added nine points and five boards, while senior forward Kirstin McIntyre (Hopewell Junction, N.Y.) had eight points and five boards.
In the first half, FSC shot 50 percent from the field and never trailed as they led by as much as nine points following a lay-up by Harris with 20 seconds left. Harris scored six of her 15 points in the first half. Tech was limited to 19 percent shooting from the floor and 17 percent shooting from long distance in the opening 20 minutes of the game.
Tech, who was ranked No. 1 in the first NCAA Division II South Region rankings that were released this past Wednesday, committed 20 turnovers on the night. FSC had 26 turnovers and held a 26-22 edge in points in the paint.
The Mocs will return to action this coming Wednesday, Feb. 27 as they travel to Tampa for a 5:30 p.m. SSC match-up at the University of Tampa. The Spartans picked up a 51-31 win over the Mocs in Lakeland on Jan. 23.
