Women's Basketball Season Ends in Opening Round of SSC Tournament at Tampa

TAMPA, Fla. – The Florida Southern College women's basketball team fell in the first round of the Sunshine State Conference tournament on Tuesday evening as Tampa won a close game, 75-74.

The Mocs will finish the season 5-3, while the Spartans improve to 5-0. With the victory Tampa will advance to the semifinals of the conference tournament.

HOW IT HAPPENED
1^st Quarter

• The two teams immediately put the pressure on the opposition as they each forced turnovers.
• Southern would jump out to a 9-4 lead as all nine points came from beyond the arc with Marta Aranda hitting the first two and Monet Burkett hitting the third.
• The Spartans would cut the Mocs lead to just one at 9-8 but the Mocs offense turned up and would use an 11-4 run to close out the first quarter.

2^nd Quarter

• Tampa would use an 8-0 run to tie the game at 20-20. However, the Mocs didn't back down as Jenike put the Mocs up by five with a pair of jump shots.  
• Jenike totaled 10 points in the second quarter including a pair of three-point shots.
• Despite 16-14 Tampa advantage in the second quarter the Mocs took a 34-28 lead to halftime.

3^rd Quarter

• Mackeznie Steele made a layup to give the Mocs a five-point advantage on the teams' first possession of the second half. At the other end of the court Ashley Shell blocked a layup by the home team and proceeded to collect the rebound and put Southern up by nine.
• The Mocs used a pair of Jenike three-pointers to push the lead to 10, 48-38 with 5:42 remaining in the third quarter.

4^th Quarter

• Aranda would hit a pair of three-point shots on the first two Moccasin possessions to open the final stanza.
• Steele would put a layup in with 4:15 remaining giving Southern a 71-63 lead. The Spartans would respond with an 8-0 run to tie the game at 71-71. During this span Tampa would force three Moccasin turnovers allowing them to tie the game.
• Steele hit a much needed three-point shot with 1:25 left giving Southern a 74-71 lead. Tampa would attempt a jump shot but miss however Terri Battle was able to get the offensive rebound and get the points for home team making it a 74-73 score. The Spartans would force a turnover by the Mocs and call a time out.
• The timeout allowed the Spartans to draw up the eventual winning play as good jump shot by Melijah Sullivan gave the Spartans their only lead of the game with 23 seconds to go. Steele attempted to give the Mocs a one-point lead but her shot was blocked and Battle collected the defensive rebound.
• Battle would draw the foul by Jenike but miss both free throws. Steele would collect the defensive rebound just as the clock hit zero.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Four of the Mocs five starters hit double-digit points. Jenike (22) and Aranda (18) led the Mocs as each hit four three-point shots.
• The Mocs had 12 assists on 29 baskets, led by Jenike's five.