LAKELAND, Fla. - The Florida Southern College women's basketball team opened up Sunshine State Conference action with a tough loss to the No. 12/19 University of Tampa on Wednesday night with a 73-48 final.
The Moccasins (5-1, 0-1 SSC) tried to rally with the Spartans (7-2, 2-0 SSC) early on, but the visitors pulled away in the end.
It was a back-for-forth game in the first five minutes of action as Tampa scored first, but
Anna Denes hit a shot beyond the arch to take a 3-2 lead. The Spartans hit a layup, but
Arriyana Bracero earned back the Mocs lead with a 3-pointer at the 8-minute mark.
With the Mocs up 6-4, Tampa tied it up once again six-all. Bracero was fouled, sending the point guard to the line where she hit both free throws for an 8-6 lead. The Spartans then went on a 9-0 run that was stopped by an
Arielle Dabu 3-pointer to make it 15-11. FSC continued to play catch up to Tampa coming within three, but would finish the first quarter with an 18-12 deficit.
The Spartans continued their momentum from the first quarter getting as much as a 17-point lead in the second.
Bre'Asia Washington and
Sydney Gomes cut the lead down to 13 to make it 33-20 with 3:24 remaining in the second quarter. The Mocs would keep the 13-point deficit going into halftime as Gomes hit a layup at the buzzer to make it 37-24.
In the third quarter, Tampa out-shot FSC 23-14, giving the Mocs a 22-point deficit to rally back from. Florida Southern tried to make a run in the fourth quarter as Bracero hit her second three of the night with 8:32 remaining in regulation. With FSC down 63-41, they tried to fight back, but the damage was done as the Mocs dropped the conference opener 73-48.
Bracero led the Mocs with 10 points, followed by
Amari Jackson with nine and Gomes with eight points. On the defensive end, Denes came away with six boards, followed by Gomes and
Sarah Lange with five apiece. For the Spartans, Kath van Bennekom led the way contributing 19 points, going 5-9 from beyond the arch.
Florida Southern looks to bounce back Saturday, as the Mocs host Embry-Riddle for another SSC matchup in Jenkins Field House. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
