Box Score
LAKELAND - Florida Southern dropped yet another game in their 2013-14 campaign, this time to Sunshine State Conference foe Eckerd by a score of 53-43 here Wednesday evening at the Jenkins Field House. The loss drops the Mocs' record to 4-8 on the year, 0-3 in the SSC, and increases their losing streak to six games.
FSC, facing off against the Tritons (7-4, 1-1) for the 78th time in program history, scored the first seven points of the contest after a three-pointer from sophomore guard Ali Sanders (Sleepy Hollow, Ill.) at 17:05. Florida Southern held Eckerd scoreless until 12:10 in the half when guard Amy Buccilla drained a layup to bring the deficit down to five. Back-to-back baskets from freshman forward Christin Strawbridge (Lakeland, Fla.) and sophomore guard Sydni Payne (Conyers, Ga.) gave Florida Southern their largest lead of the night at nine with 10:49 to go in the opening half.
The Mocs and the Tritons traded points throughout the middle of the half, with the Mocs retaining their slim lead. Their lead, however, would come to an end after a layup from forward Liga Vente at 6:40 kicked off a run of 13 unanswered points to take a 22-15 lead with two minutes remaining in the half. Two-pointers from forwards Enjelica Reid (Johnson City, Tenn.) and Mariah Harris (Gainesville, Fla.) reduced Eckekrd's lead to two at halftime.
Harris led the Mocs in scoring with four points, while Strawbridge led with five rebounds and four players followed up with four. Eckerd posted a shooting percentage of 30, while Florida Southern put up a 28.6 shooting percentage.
Payne kicked off the second half with a successful free throw at 18:26, beginning a 6-3 run to pull to within one point by 16:10.
Eckerd responded with a 9-3 run of their own to bring their lead to seven. The Mocs answered right back with nine points of their own to bring the score to 37-36 with 6:12 remaining in the game.
The Tritons continued to keep themselves out of reach of the Moccasins, adding four straight points off of free throws from guards Kayla Bowlin and Rana Thomas. A layup from Strawbridge and a three-pointer from junior guard Cashala Thompson (Tucson, Ariz.) reduced Eckerd's lead to two.
The Mocs couldn't make a defensive stop, though, as Eckerd scored seven consecutive points to bring their lead to 49-41 with 1:26 to go in the game. Two free throws from Harris brought FSC to within six before they were forced to foul to get the ball back. Bowlin was fouled twice and hit all four of her free throws to give Eckerd the 10-point victory.
The Tritons outshot the Moccasins shot 44 percent from the field in the second half to Florida Southern's 26 percent, and 35 percent to 27 percent for the game. The Mocs were also outshot from beyond the arc for the game, shooting 27 percent compared to Eckerd's 35 percent. Although they were outshot from the field, Florida Southern hit 69 percent from the free-throw line to Eckerd's 52 percent.
Thompson led the Mocs in scoring with 11 points, hitting three treys all in the second half, while Harris achieved her third double-double of the season, scoring 10 points and pulling down 10 rebounds in the loss. Payne finished with three of the Mocs' six steals, while junior guard Syerra Davis (Tolleson, Ariz.) led with three assists.
Bowlin led the Tritons with 17 points and eight assists in the victory, while Vente pulled down nine rebounds and guard Ivana Grbic blocked two shots.
The Mocs hit the road for their next two games, starting in Boca Raton on Saturday, Jan. 11, against Lynn at 2 p.m. and then playing on Wednesday, Jan. 11 at Saint Leo.
