Box Score LAKELAND - Mariah Harris and Bailey Florin combined for 34 points as Florida Southern downed Saint Leo 67-53 in Sunshine State Conference action here Saturday at Jenkins Field House.
The win improves Florida Southern (ranked 24th in the USA Today Sports Coaches Poll and 23rd in the D2SIDA Media Poll) to 17-3 overall and 8-3 in the SSC while Saint Leo falls to 4-16 and 1-10.
Harris scored 18 points, one off her season-high, while Florin pumped in season-high 16 points. Syndi Payne was also in double figures for Florida Southern with 12 points.
"We needed Bailey to step up," said FSC Head Coach Betsy Harris. "We haven't had the production for a couple of guards that we normally do. Bailey can be just as good as any guard in this conference once she gets 100% confidence. We're trying to get her more playing time, so hopefully that confidence will keep growing."
Florin scored eight of points in the first period as the Moccasins took a 14-9 lead, but Saint Leo came back to take the second quarter 14-13. Florida Southern had pushed its lead to 25-17, but the Lions roared back to put together a 11-2 run to end the half, trailing 27-23.
"We still played ugly. We've got to get this ugliness out of the way," said Coach Harris. "We play Palm Beach Atlantic on Wednesday and they just upset (12th-ranked) Nova Southeastern tonight. We've played enough ugly games that I would hope it be out of the way."
Florida Southern shot just 35 in the second period while Saint Leo shot 39 percent. Chelsey Springs led the Saint Leo comeback in the second quarter with nine of her game-high 28 points coming in the period.
Saint Leo's momentum spilled over into the second half as the Lions pulled with two, 29-27, just a minute and half into the second half.
Payne then added six points in a 17-4 run as Florida Southern ran its lead to 46-31 with 1:26 left in the third period. Harris also had six points in the quarter.
The Moccasins scored a game-high 21 points in the fourth period, but also allowed a game-high 19 points in the final quarter.
"We've got to make a few changes in the line-up," said Coach Harris. "At one time we had a deep bench and now the cream is rising and right now, we're not playing as a team, not in the first half at all. We didn't have many assists."
One thing the Moccasins did have was rebounding. Anja Fuchs-Robetin grabbed seven boards (to go with her six points) as every player (that played four minutes or more) had at least one rebound.
"I thought Anja did much better in the second half." said Coach Harris. "She gets her hands on the ball a lot, tipping it out to others."
Florida Southern shot 40 percent from the floor in the game, making just 4-of-20 three pointers in the contests. The Moccasins, again, were solid at the free throw line, connecting on 13-of-15 tries.
Jensen Blassage added nine points and five assists for Florida Southern while Payne added four assists and three steals to her offensive output.
Mary Redmond was the only other player beside Springs in double figures for Saint Leo, netting 11 points. The Lions were held to 33 percent from the floor and committed 20 turnovers.
Florida Southern takes a break from conference play to host Palm Beach Atlantic (9-10) on Wednesday in a 5:30 p.m. game at Jenkins Field House. The Mocs earned a 60-55 win over the Sailfish in West Palm Beach on Nov. 24.
