WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - The Florida Southern College women's basketball team fell to Palm Beach Atlantic University on Wednesday evening, 66-63. The Moccasins led 63-62 with 15 seconds left in the game but the Sailfish came up with a big steal that they converted to a fast break layup to take the lead and earn the come-from-behind win.
FSC falls to 11-8 on the season and 7-5 in Sunshine State Conference play.
In the opening quarter, the Mocs jumped out to a big lead. Sophomore
Arielle Dabu took the first basket of the game with a fast-break layup which sophomore
Marissa Jenike followed up with a nice jump shot. Shell then added two consecutive buckets in the post to take an 8-0 lead. They continued onto a 12-3 run, but the Sailfish managed to shift some momentum, and what looked like it might be a blowout at first turned into a real battle for the Moccasins. They still maintained the lead at the end of the first quarter, 16-11.
In the second quarter, the Mocs continued to build on the lead they secured in the first quarter. They led by as many as 12 until the Sailfish started to reign them back in, ending the frame with the Mocs leading 29-21.
The Sailfish continued to try to reign the Mocs in throughout the third quarter, but the Mocs never relinquished the lead and closed the third quarter with a 46-43. It was not until the very end of the final frame that the Sailfish was able to gain the lead over the Mocs.
With three minutes left to play freshman
Sydney Gomes came up with a big three for the Mocs and it looked as if Florida Southern was going to come out on top as sophomore
Anna Denes added a nice post-move bucket with just over a minute left to play to further the Mocs lead, 61-58. The Sailfish sank a pair of free throws to bring it back within one, but graduate student
Ashley Shell managed to get to the line and sink a pair of free throws for the Mocs to extend the lead back to three.
With about 30 seconds left to play, PBA got a fast-break bucket and brought it back within one. It seemed as though the Mocs just needed to dribble out the clock for the win, but PBA's Mariyah Fletcher forced a turnover and scored on the other end. With seven seconds remaining, the Mocs opted to foul the Sailfish, sending them to the line. They sank both to take a 66-63 lead. In the final seconds, the Mocs did manage a decent look to tie the game up as Dabu fired a contested corner three that fell just short.
The Mocs were led offensively by Shell with 15 points and four rebounds. Shell was joined in double-digit scoring by Denes with 11 points and seven rebounds as well as senior
Domenica Zamora with 11 points and a game-high seven assists. Gomes led the Mocs in rebounds with eight.
UP NEXT
The Mocs are back at home this Saturday, January 25 to take on Nova Southeastern in George W. Jenkins Field House. The tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 PM.
