Box Score LAKELAND – Florida Southern Head Coach Betsy Harris has been working all year to get her players to accept a winning mentality. Tonight, her players took a big step in that direction by downing Rollins 75-62 in the opening round of the 2015-16 Sunshine State Conference Tournament played here Wednesday at Jenkins Field House.
The third-seeded Moccasins, now 24-4, now advance to the tournament semifinals against #2 Florida Tech on Saturday, March 5 at 7:30 p.m., at the ICI Center in Daytona Beach. The championship game is set for Sunday at 4:00 p.m.
Florida Tech gave the Moccasins two of their four losses on the season. The first coming on Dec. 5, 2015, in Lakeland by a 73-61 score, handing the Mocs their first loss of the season after an 8-0 start. The second defeat came on Feb. 6 in overtime as the Panthers prevailed 58-53. Florida Southern has not lost since, winning its last six games.
The game opened with a scoreless 1:35 before Tanaya Jones scored on a layup for sixth-seeded Rollins (13-14). the two teams took turns scoring before Jensen Blassage, who earlier in the day was named to the All-SSC second-team, connected on a three-point basket to give Florida Southern a 12-10 lead with 4:05 remaining the period. Another three-pointer, this time off the hands of Flo Ward pushed the lead to 15-10 while a Shaquita Snow layup gave the Mocs a 17-10 lead, capping the 8-0 run.
Florida Southern would add a pair of free throws from SSC Freshman of the Year, Camille Giardina, while Mariah Harris, an All-SSC first-team selection, connected on a jumper with 40 seconds left in the period. Those two points, Harris' only points of the game, would give her 1,000 for her Florida Southern career as she becomes the 20th Moccasin to reach that milestone at Florida Southern.
"It's neat that she got her 1,000th point against Rollins and I got my 100th win against Rollins," said FSC Coach Betsy Harris. "She's been a bit sluggish the last few games. I think they have her game figured out. So now, she has to counter with something different."
Rollins was able to hang with the Moccasins in the early part of the second period, twice pulling within five points – the last coming at 4:51 on a layup from Kasey Drayton. Back-to-back baskets from Gianna Vastola pushed the Moccasin lead back to double-digits, 34-23, with 3:22 left in the half. Anja Fuchs-Robetin closed out the Moccasin scoring in the first half, connecting on a three-pointer and a layup as Florida Southern took a 39-31 lead at intermission.
After Blassage opened the second half with a quick jumper, Rollins went on a 9-0 run to pull within one point, 41-40 with 5:38 left in the third period. Florida Southern was 0-for-6 from the field during the Tars run before Danielle Thomas scored in the paint at the 3:29 mark. A lay-up and a three-pointer from Snow put the Mocs back in control, 50-42. Florida Southern kept comfortable cushion until Snow hit from the half-court for a buzzer beater that gave the Mocs a 57-46 after three periods.
"Funny thing is," said FSC Coach Betsy Harris, "after practice we tell the players whoever makes a half-court shot doesn't have to do pushups, or run, or whatever. They all go out there. I guess you could say all that practice paid off."
Snow's bomb gave the Moccasins a boost that enabled them to maintain a double-digit lead for most of the final period.
"I guess that gave them some energy going into the fourth quarter" said Harris. "Play tough for ten more minutes and you're playing on Saturday."
Blassage led Florida Southern with a game-high 17 points and five assists while Snow contributed 15 points, five rebounds, and four assists. Fuchs-Robetin was also in double figures in scoring with 11 while grabbing six boards and making a game-high five steals.
Marie Gilbert scored 15 points to lead four Rollins' players in double figures. Jasmine Stone and Julie Ingler each had 12 points while Jones added 10. Carly McClendon and Tianna Rosser each had seven rebounds for the Tars.
Florida Southern shot 51 percent from the field in the game while holding Rollins to 40 percent. The Tars easily won the battle of the boards, outrebounding the Mocs, 39-28.
The Moccasin bench again came up strong, outscoring the Tars subs, 38-9.
This victory is the first for the Moccasins in the SSC Tournament since advancing to the championship game of the 2012 tournament.
