LAKELAND, Fla. – After 337 days of uncertainty, the Florida Southern College women's basketball team returned to the hardwood tonight, falling to visiting Florida Tech, 64-57, in the 2020-21 season opener for both programs.
"I thought we did well," said head coach
Betsy Harris, now in her seventh season with the Mocs. "I'm proud of [our team]. We were just ready to get on the floor and play."
And play they did.
HOW IT HAPPENED
1st Quarter | Just 21 seconds into the nascent season, senior
Marta Aranda knocked down a three-pointer on a pass from junior
Ashley Shell, and the Mocs took an early 3-0 lead. Next, Aranda would score on a put back, and the Mocs led 5-0.
- Southern would lead 10-2, then 13-4, on a triple from junior transfer Sanya Ratnikava with 3:09 to play in the quarter.
- The Panthers would finally find their rhythm, as the Mocs led 16-15 after one period.
2nd Quarter | The second quarter opened with the score remaining tight, until the 9:37 mark, when the Mocs rallied. With the score tied at 17 apiece, Shell went on a personal 6-0 run, over the next two minutes, on a pair of layups and free throws.
- Moments later, Sophomore Mackenzie Steele recorded a traditional three-point play, and the Mocs now led by nine, 28-19.
- The lead would swell to as many as ten points when freshman Maddy Morales scored her first ever college points on a three-pointer with 2:10 to go before intermission.
- Again Tech would find their shooting touch to close the quarter, and Southern took a 37-34 lead midway through the game.
3rd Quarter | Both team started the half shooting the ball well, trading baskets. Tech would take its first lead of the game barely three minutes in, on a fast break layup.
- With the score tied at 45, the Mocs put together a run. First Steele made a layup, then Shell made a jumper in the paint. First year Sara Wohlgemuth then made a fast break layup, and the Mocs led by six, 51-45.
- After a FIT basket, Southern led 51-47 after the third quarter.
4th Quarter | The Panthers came out shooting in the final stanza, as the Mocs went cold. Tech recorded the first ten points of the quarter over the first six minutes, until FSC sophomore
Aubrey Burke made a steal and went the length of the floor for a layup. Unfortunately, the damage had been done, and Tech would win, 64-57.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
- Southern led the game for 27:58 of playing time, while Tech led for only 9:05. The game featured five lead changes, and saw four tied scores.
- Steele led all scorers tonight with 18 points, while Shell contributed 13. Steele added 14 rebounds, for the game's only double-double.
- Wohlgemuth played well in her first collegiate contest, recording eight points, five rebounds, five assists, and two steals.
QUOTING COACH BETSY HARRIS
- "All we could ask of the kids was to play hard today… I thought we did really well. I think we got a little tired, since it has been a while since we had played the game."
UP NEXT
The same two team will meet once again on Sunday, February 7, for a 12:00 noon tip off inside the Jenkins Field House.
