DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The Florida Southern College women's basketball team upended Embry-Riddle on Saturday evening behind a phenomenal game from senior
Domenica Zamora.
Zamora, who finished the day with 21 points, five rebounds, and a critical steal, was the heartbeat for the Moccasins, bringing her team all the way back after starting the fourth quarter down double-digits.
The Moccasins (8-6, 4-3 SSC) ended a four-game losing streak as they pick up their first win of the new year while the Eagles (7-6, 2-5 SSC) lost their second straight SSC matchup after rattling off three straight wins at home beforehand.
The Mocs started the game slow, falling behind by as many as ten points in the first quarter before pulling the deficit to five with a late three-pointer by
Sydney Gomes that gave the Mocs some momentum headed into the second quarter. That three-pointer was the only one made in the first quarter as the Mocs shot just 1-for-9 from range.
The Eagles responded with a layup to end the frame with the lead, 28-21.
Florida Southern came out firing in the second quarter, as Zamora drilled a three-pointer to open the scoring and
Reagan White notched a quick layup after a defensive stand, bringing the score to 28-26.
The teams exchanged scoring possessions for much of the second frame, but the Moccasins weren't able to take the lead until the mid-way point of the period, when Gomes finished a fast-break play off of a well-lobbed pass from Zamora, putting the visitors up 33-32.
The Eagles didn't go away quietly, as Embry-Riddle rattled off three consecutive buckets to end the quarter, taking a 40-35 lead into halftime.
Arielle Dabu led the Moccasins at the midway point with six points, while
Ashley Shell was held off the stat sheet entirely heading into the second half.
That didn't last long, as Shell contributed four points and three rebounds in the third quarter to help resurge the trailing Mocs. Despite the effort, the Eagles were able to jump out to another ten-point lead and maintained control of the game. Shell made a layup to bring the score to 49-41 with seven minutes to play before both teams went on a scoreless spell for the next several possessions.
Embry-Riddle briefly reclaimed a double-digit lead before Gomes rattled off five points in less than thirty seconds, bringing the Mocs within five, 51-46.
The Eagles responded well, going on an 8-3 run to end the quarter, taking a 59-49 lead into the final frame.
Zamora, who tallied a late three-pointer in the third quarter, stunned the Eagles with a barrage of buckets from beyond the arc.
The senior out of Guayaquil, Ecuador, single-handedly pulled Florida Southern within one after draining three consecutive three-pointers to open the fourth quarter.
From that point forward, it was all Moccasins, as Shell scored to give Florida Southern the lead on the ensuing offensive possession, 60-59.
Shell would go on to score six more fourth-quarter points as the offense came alive to bury the Eagles late in the game. Embry-Riddle didn't score in the final frame until the 5:22 mark of the quarter, ending a 13-point scoring run for Florida Southern.
With the Moccasins leading 62-61, Shell tallied four consecutive points to give the Mocs their largest lead of the game, up 66-61 with three and a half minutes to play.
The teams traded scoring possessions until the Eagles were able to bring the deficit to just three, with the Moccasins up 68-65.
After an empty possession for Florida Southern, Embry-Riddle earned an opportunity to tie in the final minute.
With 40 seconds to play, the Moccasins drew an offensive foul to regain possession, still up 68-65. However, the Eagles forced a steal and earned two points on a fast-break layup to pull the deficit within one.
With 33 seconds to play, the home team opted to foul Zamora on the inbound, and she tallied both free throws to reclaim the three-point lead, 70-67.
On the ensuing possession, the Eagles were able to get off an open three, but the shot ricocheted off the rim. Embry-Riddle earned the offensive rebound and called a timeout with ten seconds to play, looking for one final chance to tie the game.
On the inbounds play, it was none other than Zamora who made the steal and the following free throws to put the game on ice, as the Mocs took down Embry-Riddle on the road, 72-67.
The Moccasins look ahead to Wednesday night when they'll host the Saint Leo Lions, while the Eagles will travel to Melbourne, Fla. to take on the Florida Tech Panthers.
