SAINT LEO, Fla. -
Amari Jackson's career-high of 24 points leads Florida Southern College women's basketball to a 70-58 win against Saint Leo University in Sunshine State Conference action on Wednesday evening.
The Moccasins (9-5, 2-5 SSC) started slow in the first half but turned on the pressure in the second half against the Lions to earn their second conference win. (9-5, 3-3 SSC)
Jackson led the way with 24 points followed by
Marissa Jenike with 14 points and
Sydney Gomes with nine points. On the defensive end, Gomes was the fighting force with 10 boards and Jackson was right behind with nine.
Florida Southern and Saint Leo opened up action with back-to-back 3-pointers to tie the game early 3-3 with a Jenike 3-point jumper at 8:42. The first quarter continued to go back and forth until the end of the quarter where the Lions would end with a nine-point advantage, 18-9.
The Moccasins continued to inch their way back slowly starting with a Jackson layup to get the scoring going for FSC to make it, 20-12. Jackson and
Arriyana Bracero scored two points each to bring FSC within four and make it 20-16 not allowing the Lions to score.
Saint Leo went on a 6-0 run to get back out to an eight-point lead, and FSC answered back with a run of their own, tying the game up once again 26-26. Jenike and Gomes both contributed to the run, but Jackson's made free throws gave the Mocs its first lead. Gomes ended the second quarter giving FSC a 29-26 lead heading into halftime.
Florida Southern kept the momentum from the second quarter rally and opened the third quarter on fire with an 8-0 run in the first three minutes of action. The Lions were able to fight back and get within two of the Mocs lead but FSC kept the lead going into the final quarter with a 47-44 lead.
The Lions got within one point and that was all they could manage as Gomes hit a jumper to get back a three-point lead. With under eight minutes remaining Jackson scored six consecutive points to increase FSC's lead to nine, 55-46. With time dwindling down, Saint Leo tried to catch up with Florida Southern's lead but the Mocs sealed the Lion's fate by making all six of their free throws and earning their second conference win on the road, 70-58.
FSC returns to Jenkins Field House on Saturday for the first home game of the New Year as they host Lynn University in another SSC matchup. The game is scheduled to tip off at 5:30 p.m.
