Box Score LAKELAND – Senior Sydni Payne scored 15 points and pulled down a game-high 10 rebounds to record her second double-double of the season while Mariah Harris and Jensen Blassage combined for 28 points as 22nd-ranked Florida Southern breezed past Flagler 73-47 in non-conference action Wednesday afternoon in Jenkins Field House.
The 10 reounds by Payne matched her career-high. The Stetson University transfer also put up a double-double with 24 points and 10 rebounds in the Moccasins 94-80 win over Clark Atlanta on Nov. 14.
"We've missed Sydni the last few games," said Florida Southern Head Coach Betsy Harris. "When she is aggressive out there, we have our Sydni. We need that on Saturday (vs. Tampa). We need that senior leadership."
The Moccasins (11-1) came out of the gates on a hot streak, connecting on seven of their first nine shots, jumping out to a 15-4 lead. Gianna Vastola sparked the start with six points in the opening 7:26 of the game. Shaquita Snow sank a three point to start the scoring for the Moccasins while Flo Ward capped the first period attack with a three-pointer of her own as the Moccasins led 18-6 at the end of the period.
A Blassage field goal and ensuing free throw opened the second period to give Florida Southern a 21-6 lead. Flager (4-5) then went on a 16-5 run behind six points by DeAsha Campbell and three-pointers from Teosha Ray and Kristina Bugarshi to pull within four, 26-22, and but remained behind 33-26 at the end of the half. In the second period, the Moccasins committed six turnovers and made just six of 16 field goal attempts as Flager posted a 20-15 advantage in the second 10-minute period.
"It got a bit sloppy out there today," Harris added. "but we weren't as rusty as I thought we'd be."
Florida Southern had not played since defeating Lake Superior State 69-64 in the FSC/Terrace Hotel Classic on Dec. 18.
"We have a bad habit of letting teams get back into the game," said Harris. "Once we get over that barrier, we'll be a pretty good team."
The Moccasins, which have now beaten Flagler in eight straight meetings, opened the second half on a mission, outscoring the Saints 21-10 in the third period. Blassage pumped in five points while Harris, Payne, and Camille Giardina each added four points. FSC also held Ray, the Saints' leading scorer, to seven points, almost six points below her season average while Tiffany Hodge, who came into the game with a 10.0 scoring average was held to a pair of free throws.
Campbell led Flagler with 15 points while grabbing a team-high eight rebounds while Allie Mano added 11 points.
In the final period, Payne and Harris each netted seven of Florida Southern's points as the Moccasins outscored the Saints 19-11.
Harris matched Payne with a team-high 15 points in the contest which is two off her season-high of 17 set on Nov. 21 at Lynn, while Blassage added 13 points. Both players grabbed seven rebounds as Florida Southern won the boards battle, 43-37.
The Moccasins shot 45 percent from the floor, but were just 4-of-13 on three-point attempts, and made 11-of-17 free throws. Florida Southern's defense held Flagler to 27 percent shooting and forced 23 turnovers with 10 steals. The 47 points scored by the Saints was 16 below their season average.
Florida Southern completes the 2015 portion of its schedule with 11 wins, the most heading into January of any team in program history.
The Moccasins will return to Sunshine State Conference action with a home game against Tampa on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. The Spartans will come into Jenkins Field House with a 6-6 record, but have won their last two games, including a 72-61 win on Dec. 19 over fourth-ranked Drury in a game played at Florida Tech. Florida Southern is 3-1 in league play while Tampa is winless in three SSC contests.
