Box Score LAKELAND - Jensen Blassage scored 18 points to lead a trio of Moccasins scoring in double figures as Florida Southern closed out non-conference play with a 67-56 win at home over Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University here Saturday night at Jenkins Field House on the FSC campus.
Blassage was nearly perfect, missing just one shot on the night. The sophomore guard was 6-of-7 from the field, including 2-of-2 three-pointers, and made each of her four free throws. However, the other four starters were a combined 8-for-25 from the field.
Mariah Harris entered the game 18 points shy of becoming the 20th player in program history to score 1,000 career points. However, the senior forward was held to just five points after connecting on just 2-of-7 field goals.
"We played selfish tonight," said Florida Southern Head Coach Besty Harris. "We were too busy trying to get Mariah her 18 points instead of playing as a team and trying to get a team win. I understand them want to help her get a 1,000 points, but let her get it within the team"
Florida Southern (21-4) started the game on 7-3 spurt behind five points from Blassage, but Embry-Riddle (6-18) came back to take a brief 8-7 lead before the Moccasins closed out the period on a 13-2 run for a 20-10 lead at the end of the first period. Gianna Vastola sparked the run with back to back baskets to put FSC ahead 13-8 owith 3:11 remaining in the period.
Blassage got the Moccasins started again in the second period with a quick layup followed by a another layup, this time from Anja Fuchs-Robetin, and one-of-two free throws from Sydni Payne as the Moccasins pulled ahead 25-12 just two minutes into the period. The two teams traded three points, before Florida Southern scored six straight. After two straight baskets from Embry-Riddle, the Mocs again ran off six straight before the Eagles would score with two seconds left, making it a 42-24 halftime lead by the Moccasins.
Embry-Riddle, a provisional member of the Sunshine State Conference, opened the second half on a 6-0 spurt behind Lauren Elleberger's trey and a layup from Mercedes Jorge sandwiched around a free throw from Sabrina Whiting as the Eagles cut the Mocs lead to 42-30.
The Moccasins then got a layup from Payne and a jumper from Vastola before Whiting hit on a three-pointer for the Eagles. Vastola then hit another jumper and the Blassage scored FSC's next six points to take the lead to 54-37.
The final period was all Embry-Riddle as the Moccasins were held to a pair of three-pointers from Snow and Samantha Famulare and a two-pointer from Danielle Thomas as the Eagles posted a 15-8 advantage in the final period. Florida Southern shot a game-low 27 percent in the final period.
"Some coaches would be happy to not play well and win by 11," said Coach Harris. "No. We could have prevented that (poor second half)," said Coach Harris. "We didn't have the effort Embry-Riddle had. It's disappointing. We go as our leaders go. We go as the mood of our leader, and that's how the team played."
Payne finished with 11 points for the Moccasins with Shaquita Snow being the only other player in double figures with 10 points while handing out team-high six assists. Florida Southern shot well in the first half, make 62 percent of its shots in the first period and 68 percent in the second period but fell off to 47 percent in the third period and the aforementioned 27 percent in the final period.
Embry-Riddle was limited to 29 percent in the first half, but came out in the second half to blister the nets for 64 percent in the third period. Sabrina Whiting led the Eagles with 12 points while Ellenberger added 10. Taylor Cyphers, ERAU's 6-foot-3 senior center, scored eight points and pulled down a game-high 13 rebounds.
Florida Southern will close out the regular season next week, first with a road game at Eckerd on Wednesday before hosting Nova Southeastern next Saturday, Feb. 27 on Senior Night.
