Box Score LAKELAND, FL - All five starters scored in double figures as Florida Southern College women's basketball knocked off Sunshine State Conference rival Eckerd, 74-61, on Saturday at Jenkins Field House.
The win pushed the Moccasins (12-4, 8-1 SSC) past the No. 22 Tritons (13-3, 7-1) and into first place in the conference standings, snapping Eckerd's 11-game winning streak.
HOW IT HAPPENED
• Florida Southern looked as if it might be in for a long night when Eckerd raced out to a 7-1 lead less than three minutes into te ballgame, but the Mocs were able to mount an 8-2 run to tie things at 9-9 with 3:26 to go in the first quarter.
• The Moccasins were able to take the lead on a free throw from Anja Fuchs-Robetin with 2:43 on the clock, and led by as many as five points (16-11) in the closing seconds of the opening period. However, Chelsea Johnson hit a jumper at the buzzer and sliced Eckerd's deficit to just three points after one quarter of play.
• The Tritons used the momentum from the buzzer-beater to grab a three-point lead on two occassions in the first four minutes of the second quarter. The Moccasins responded by reeling off an 18-0 run over a span of 5:26 to turn a 21-18 deficit into a commanding 36-21 lead, and took a 36-24 lead into the half.
• The Mocs would never surrender the lead the rest of the way. Eckerd was able to get within seven points (39-32) midway through the third quarter, but Florida Southern slammed the door shut with a 12-2 run to open the fourth quarter en route to its fourth-straight victory.
• Florida Southern shot a blistering 61.8 percent (21-of-24) from the floor, including 6-of-8 from long range. The Mocs also made 26-of-32 free-throw attempts. Eckerd shot just 40.4 percent (23-of-57) and made just 8-of-14 free throws.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
• Florida Southern improved to 71-13 all-time against Eckerd, including 35-5 at home, and won its third-straight against the Tritons. The Moccasins also moved to 411-148 all-time at Jenkins Field House, including 32-7 under head coach Betsy Harris.
• Eckerd entered the contest ranked 11th nationally in scoring defense (54.5 ppg), and holding opponents to just 35.9 percent from the floor, including 28.2 percent from long range. Florida Southern scored almost 20 points higher than the Triton's previous 15 opponents, and shot almost 26 percent better.
• The Moccasins had five players score in double figures, led by Anja Fuchs-Robetin (15). Gianna Vastola (13), Jensen Blassage (12), Giulia Simioni (12), and Camille Giardina (10) were the other four to hit double-digits.
• Eckerd finished with a 30-14 edge in the paint, but Florida Southern made the Tritons pay for mistakes, outscoring Eckerd 31-13 in points off turnovers.
UP NEXT
• Florida Southern heads to Embry-Riddle on Wednesday, Jan. 18 before a weekend off. The Mocs return home against Rollins on Jan. 25, and face Nova Southeastern at home on Jan. 28 to begin the second round of conference play.
