Box Score LAKELAND, Fla. – The Florida Southern College women's basketball team led from wire to wire, defeating the visiting Palm Beach Atlantic Sailfish, 79-37, in Sunshine State Conference action on Saturday evening. Southern advances to 10-7 on the season, including a 7-2 mark in the Sunshine State Conference, and at least a tie for second place. PBA falls to 2-14, and 0-9 in the SSC.
At halftime of today's game, Florida Southern recognized the 25th anniversary of the 1994-95 women's basketball team that was coached by legendary Head Coach Norm Benn. That team posted a record of 28-4 and advanced to the Elite Eight.
HOW IT HAPPENED
• 1st Quarter | Florida Southern began the game with defensive intensity, holding the Sailfish scoreless on their first six possessions, forcing three turnovers during that stretch. The Mocs led the game from the very beginning, building a 5-0 lead on buckets from sophomore forward Ashley Shell and sophomore guard Bekki Kalaydjiev. Junior guard Marta Aranda came off the bench to lead all scorers with five points in the quarter, making both shots she took from the field. Southern led 17-12 after one.
• 2nd Quarter | The Mocs pushed the lead to as many as eight early in the second, as junior forward Julia Jenike made a jumper at the 7:15 mark. Late in the quarter, the Mocs lost their shooting touch, coming up empty on six straight shots over a span of four and a half minutes, before senior Katerina Pazzaglia-Khomenko sent home a three-pointer to extend the Mocs' lead to 29-24. PBA would make one last free throw before the buzzer, as Southern took a 29-25 lead into halftime.
• 3rd Quarter | Pazzaglia-Khomenko opened the third quarter with a jumper to push the lead to six, 31-25. The basket would start a 12-1 run to open the half, over the first five-plus minutes. The lead would swell to 25, as freshman forward Aubrey Burke nailed a three-pointer with 33 seconds left, making the score 54-29. The Mocs defense played exceptionally well, holding the Sailfish to just one made basket during the period.
• 4th Quarter | The defense continued to be the story of the fourth quarter, as the Mocs held PBA to just eight points, on 25% shooting. Offensively, the Red and White would push the lead to 40 points, when junior guard Monet Burkett hit a runner in the lane. After a PBA free throw, freshman forward Anna Keene made the game's next basket, her first points in a Southern uniform. Classmate Chyna Bullen would later make a pair of free throws, her first points as a Moccasin.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
• The Mocs forced the 'Fish into 25 turnovers today, setting a new season-high. Previously, Southern's best effort this season came against Embry-Riddle, when FSC forced the Eagles into 24 turnovers. On average, FSC forces opponents into 11.4 turnovers per game.
• Additionally, the PBA turnovers proved fruitful for the Mocs, who scored 33 points from the turnovers. Additionally, FSC scored 14 fast break points.
• Today marks Florida Southern's second-largest margin of victory on the season, 42 points. Earlier this season, FSC defeated Alabama-Huntsville by 43, 93-50.
• Three different Mocs scored in double digits: Pazzaglia-Khomenko had 16, sophomore guard Mackenzie Steele had 11, and Burke had 10.
• Two student-athletes scored their first-ever points for the Moccasins: Bullen and Keene. In all, eleven different Mocs scored points.
• Florida Southern never trailed in the game, and held the largest lead of 44, with 26 seconds remaining in the game.
UP NEXT
• Florida Southern continues its three-game homestand in the Jenkins Field House by hosting local rival Tampa on Wednesday night, January 22, at 5:30 p.m. The finale of the home swing will be next Saturday, January 25, when the Barry Buccaneers make the trip to Lakeland for a 5:30 p.m. tip.
