Box Score LAKELAND - Florida Southern's game Saturday at home against Eckerd was a case of "it's not how you start, it's how you finish." The Moccasins fell behind 9-1 to start the game, but rallied back to eclipse Eckerd 73-65 in Sunshine State Conference action at Jenkins Field House.
The win is the Moccasins' sixth in a row and improves Florida Southern, ranked 21st nationally in the D2SIDA Weekly Media Poll, to 14-1 on the season. More importantly, it moves the Moccasins into a tie for second place in the SSC with Florida Tech with both teams trailing Nova Southeastern by one-half game. FSC plays at Nova Southeastern next Saturday in a 2 p.m. game that can be seen on ESPN3.
Gianna Vastola came off the bench to lead the Florida Southern comeback with 13 of her game-high 15 points coming in the second half. In all, the Moccasin bench pumped in 36 points on the night. Bailey Florin added 10 points while Shaquita Snow added seven off the bench.
"The bench could start, the starters could sit the bench. It doesn't really matter," said Moccasin head coach Betsy Harris.
Vastola was 7-of-11 from the field and also pulled down a game-high eight rebounds.
"When she's feeling it, you just have to give it to her," said Harris. "When she pumps her first, I got to leave her out there. I know something good's about to happen."
Something good was not happening at the beginning of the game as Eckerd (7-5, 3-3 SSC) jumped out to a 9-1 lead in the game's first three minutes. Bailey Florin finally got the Florida Southern attacked started with a three-pointer, followed by a Vastola jumper and two free throws by Snow. A layup by Danielle Thomas capped the rally and the Mocs were back in the game with a one-point lead with 3:45 left in the period.
The attack sputtered as Eckerd came back to take a 18-13 lead at the end of the first period and pushed the lead back to nine points, 25-16, in the opening minute of the second period.
Three-pointers Camille Giardina and Florin, along with layups from Giardina and Jensen Blassage put Florida Southern ahead, 26-25, with 5:29 left in the half.
"I wish they did that in the first period," said Harris. "I told them, they have to be hungry right from when game tips off," said Harris.
The two teams traded leads with Eckerd finally taking a 34-33 lead at intermission. Neither team could take control in the third period with both clubs netting 17 points in the quarter.
The final period was much of the same in the early going, with the two clubs trading one point leads. With the score knotted at 56-all and 4:51 left, Mariah Harris connected on a jump shot that gave Florida Southern the lead for good. Eckerd would pull within two points twice, but the Moccasins closed out the game with a 10-4 run for the win.
"They closed it out," said Harris. "This year's team's mental attitude is a lot better (than last year). They're used to winning now. They've got that taste."
Giardina finished with 13 for Florida Southern while Harris chipped in 12 points and seven rebounds.
Eckerd got 15 points from sub Chelsea Johnson while Victoria Vine and Margaret Sundberg added 14 and 10 points, respecitvely.
The Tritons shot 46 percent from the floor while the Moccasins made 43 percent of their shots. Florida Southern made twice as many three-pointers (8 to 4) and were 19-of-24 from the free throw line while Eckerd was 9-of-15.
