Box Score WEST PALM BEACH - Jensen Blassage scored 12 points down the stretch as Florida Southern overcame a 13-point, third-quarter deficit to top Palm Beach Atlantic, 60-55, on the road Tuesday. The win keeps the Moccasins undefeated at 5-0 on the season.
With Palm Beach Atlantic (0-5) holding on to a 42-29 lead with 6:08 remaining in the third period, Camille Giardina nailed a three-pointer to get the comeback started for the Moccasins. Blassage, Mariah Harris, and Gianna Vastola each made lay-ups to cut into the Sailfish lead, 45-38, with 3:43 left in the period.
Blassage then connnected for three jumpers in a two-minute span while Anja Fuchs-Robetin tapped in an errant shot with five ticks left to pull FSC within five, 50-54 heading into the final ten minutes.
Fuchs-Robetin then hit on a jumper to open the fourth quarter for the Mocs while Blassage followed with a lay-up to knot the game at 50-50 with 6:40 left. A Bailey Florin lay-up gave the Mocs the lead, 52-50, with 5:22 to go. Florida Southern then sealed the win, making 8-of-8 free throws in the closing minutes, including four by Sydni Payne in the final 23 seconds.
Palm Beach Atlantic closed out the first period with a 7-2 run to take a 13-8 lead and increased its lead to 23-17 halfway through the second period before the Moccasins would come back to tie the game, 23-23, on a pair of Payne free throws. The Sailfish answered to take a 28-25 lead at intermission.
The Sailfish opened the second half by stringing together a 14-4 run that would give them the 13-point lead, 42-29, with 6:08 left.
In addition to Blassage's 13 points, Harris would add 12 points and just miss a double-double with nine rebounds. Payne contributed eight points, six rebounds, three steals, while Giardina pumped in eight points and recorded four steals.
Palm Beach Atlantic got a game-high 24 points from Nina Krstic who was good on 7-of-12 three-point attempts. Darsan Deshazier added 12 points for the Sailfish while Hannah Grim was also in double figures with 10 points.
Florida Southern made just 33 percent of its field goals, including a 2-for-11 night from three-point land, but made 18-of-19 free throws. The Moccasin defense limited the Sailfish to a 36 percent shooting night and forced 22 turnovers.
The Moccasins will continute their road trip with two games in South Carolina this weekend, playing Saturday at 2 pm at Claflin and Sunday at 1:30 pm at USC-Aiken.
