Box Score LAKELAND, Fla. - Four different players scored in double figures as Florida Southern College women's basketball blew past Saint Leo, 83-63, in a Sunshine State Conference contest on Wednesday night at Streamline Sale Arena at Jenkins Field House. The Moccasins (5-4, 3-0 SSC) led for nearly the entire game as they topped the Lions (4-4, 1-1) for the 13th-straight meeting.
Julia Jenike tallied a career-high 22 points, while Mackenzie Steele (18), Katerina Pazzaglia-Khomenko (12), and Ashley Shell (12) also scored in double figures. Shell also pulled down 12 rebounds as Florida Southern outrebounded the Lions 47-31.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- 1st Quarter | Saint Leo got out to an early 4-0 lead as the Moccasins started the game in an offensive funk and did not score until Steele drilled a three-pointer with 7:20 to go in the first quarter. Shell would connect on a jumper on the next possession to put the Mocs in front by one (5-4) at the 6:50 mark. The teams would trade baskets over the next few minutes before Southern, trailing 11-10 with 3:41 left in the period, scored five in a row to take a four-point lead and found itself up 17-15 at the quarter break.
- 2nd Quarter | The Mocs would score the first seven points of the second quarter, capping off a 9-0 run that started at the end of the first, to jump on top by 9 points (25-14) on Marte Moe's layup with 7:03 to go in the first half. The Lions cut the deficit to three points (28-25) with 4:13 on the clock, but the Moccasins never surrendered their lead and went into the half with a 40-35 edge.
- 3rd Quarter | In the third quarter, Florida Southern was able to assert itself as the clearly dominant team by outscoring Saint Leo 23-13. After the Lions sliced the deficit to three (40-37) early on, the Moccasins would go on an 8-2 run to go in front by nine (48-39) and grabbed their first double-digit lead (52-42) when Pazzaglia-Khomenko hit a pair of free throws with 3:26 on the clock. Jenike would knock down a three-pointer with 25 seconds left in the third and the Mocs led 63-48 heading into the fourth quarter.
- 4th Quarter | Florida Southern continued its dominance in the fourth quarter by pushing its lead to 21 points (79-58) with 1:44 left to play as it outscored the Lions 20-15 over the final 10 minutes of action.
- The Mocs shot 40.0 percent (30-for-75) on the night while Saint Leo connected on 44.9 percent (22-of-49). Florida Southern hit 11-of-26 three-pointers and outscored the Lions 27-7 in points off turnovers.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
- Florida Southern improved to 82-10 all-time against Saint Leo and has won 13 in a row in the all-time series. The Moccasins are now 42-4 when facing the Lions at home.
- Head Coach Betsy Harris picked up career win 188 in her nine-year coaching career. She is now 188-70 all-time, including a 120-43 record at Florida Southern. She is third in school history in wins at Florida Southern.
- Jenike's 22 points were a new career-high, eclipsing the 21 she scored at Embry-Riddle on Feb. 9, 2019. Shell's 12 points tied a career-high, while her 12 rebounds are a new career-best.
UP NEXT
- Florida Southern is off for the next 10 days before taking on Lynn at home on Dec. 14. The Mocs close out the calendar year with contests against Lindenwood (Dec. 19) and No. 1 Drury (Dec. 20).
