Box Score MELBOURNE, FL - Florida Southern College women's basketball overcame a slow start to earn a gritty, 51-45 win at Sunshine State Conference foe Florida Tech on Wednesday at the Clemente Center.
The Moccasins (15-7, 11-3 SSC) scored just seven points in the first quarter, but came to life in the second quarter to overcome an early deficit and pick up their second win of the year over the Panthers (10-11, 5-9).
HOW IT HAPPENED
• Neither team was able to find an early offensive groove as the squads combined to score just 18 points and go 7-of-26 from the floor in the first quarter. The score stood at just 4-2 after seven minutes of play before Kareese Johnson gave Florida Tech some breathing room with a three-pointer at the 2:39 mark to make it 7-2 as the Panthers led 11-7 after the first quarter.
• Trailing by six (13-6) early in the second quarter, Florida Southern reeled off a quick 10-3 run to take its first lead of the game (17-16) with 5:18 to go in the first half. The teams would trade jabs the rest of the way until Jensen Blassage hit a layup with 19 seconds left to give the Mocs a 25-24 lead at the half.
• In the third quarter, Florida Southern clamped down and allowed just nine points. With the score tied at 29-29 and 3:43 to go in the third, the Moccasins held the Panthers without a point just over three minutes as FSC built a 36-29 lead. Florida Tech was able to close within five points (38-33) heading into the fourth quarter.
• The Panthers looked as if they may seize momentum when they cut the deficit to one point (42-41) with just over six minutes to play, but the Mocs reeled off a quick 6-0 run to extend the lead to 49-41 en route to a 51-45 victory.
• Florida Southern shot just 35.4 percent (17-of-48) from the floor, but held Florida Tech to just 32.0 percent (16-of-50), including 1-of-10 from long range. The Mocs were outrebounded 38-33 but finished with a 20-16 edge in points in the paint.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
• Florida Southern improved to 40-27 all-time against Florida Tech, and swept the season series with the Panthers for the first time since the 2007-08 campaign.
• Gianna Vastola scored eight points for the Mocs to push her career total to 979. She needs 21 more to hit 1,000 for her career. Vastola scored 399 points as a freshman at the College of Coastal Georgia, and has scored 580 in three seasons at Florida Southern.
• Jensen Blassage led all players with 19 points on 6-of-10 from the floor. She also pulled down a team-igh seven rebounds.
• The game featured six ties and six lead changes. Florida Southern led for 16:58 while Florida Tech led for 15:41. The game was tied for 7:20.
UP NEXT
• Florida Southern returns home on Saturday to face Embry-Riddle at 5:30 p.m. before hitting the road to take on Tampa (Feb. 15). The Mocs' final regular-season home game comes on Feb. 18 against Lynn.
