LAKELAND, Fla. – The Florida Southern College women's basketball team rebounded for it first win of the young season, defeating visiting Florida Tech, 74-43, on Sunday afternoon. The Mocs are now 1-1 on the season, as is Florida Tech.
These two teams met on Friday night, with Tech pulling out the 64-57win.
HOW IT HAPPENED
1st Quarter | Florida Southern jumped out to a quick 7-2 lead, on layups from senior
Marta Aranda, junior
Ashley Shell, and a three-pointer from classmate
Sanya Ratnikava.
- The lead would extend to nine points later in the quarter, as freshman Sara Wohlgemuth converted a steal into a layup in the paint, with 1:23 to go. At the end of one, Southern led, 18-13, as the Mocs shot 58.3% from the floor.
2nd Quarter | The Mocs continued to shoot the ball well as the second stanza opened, going in a 9-0 run over the first 3:04. Sophomore
Mackenzie Steele, freshman
Maddy Morales, Wohlgemuth, and Ratnikava all scored during the run.
- Leading 27-13, the Southern defense continued to pressure Tech's offense. Southern would lead 30-20 at the half.
3rd Quarter | The lead jumped back to 14 points early in the third, as Steele scored the first two baskets, Minutes later, a Steele three-pointer game the Mocs a 17-point lead, 39-22, with 5:48 to go in the third.
- The lead would swell to 21 points twice in the quarter, as Ratnikava hit a three at the :58 mark, then again with five seconds remaining, as Steele made a three-pointer.
- In the third quarter alone, Steele out-scored Florida Tech, 13-12. She had a nearly perfect quarter shooting, making five of her six shots from the field, including all three three's she took.
4th Quarter | The fourth quarter saw the Mocs defense seal the game, forcing the Panthers into tough shots. Tech shot just 28.6% from the field over the last ten minutes, including seven turnovers.
- The lead would never dip below 20, and extended to as many as 34.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
- For the game, FSC shot 47.4% from the field, including 52.2% from behind the arc.
- The Southern defense held Tech to just 29.3% shooting from the field, including just 18.5% from three-point land.
- Southern forced 28 Tech turnovers, resulting in a whopping 27 points for the Mocs.
- Steele recorded a career-high 27 points in the game, eclipsing her old career-high of 23, also set against Florida Tech.
- FSC outrebounded FIT, 40-33.
QUOTING COACH BETSY HARRIS
- "I was very pleased that we had the same amount of energy today, as we had Friday night."
- "Our defense was really good … and I think that's what helped us win the game. I think our defense is what started our offense."
UP NEXT
Florida Southern will take to the road now, heading to face Barry University on Monday, February 15, for a 5:00 pm tip off.
