FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. - The Florida Southern College women's basketball team hit the road for the first time this season and did not get the results they were hoping for, falling to Fayetteville State University 80-57 in the Felton J. Capel Arena on Friday afternoon.
The Moccasins (3-3, 1-1 SSC) were led by
Sydney Gomes and
Lily Randgaard, each finishing with 13 points, followed by
Arriyana Bracero with 11 points to conclude the double digit scoring. The Broncos (4-3, 0-0 CIAA) also had three in double figures led by Talia Trotter with 15 points, KaNyah O'Neal off the bench with 13 points, and Keayna McLaughlin with 12.
Bracero opened the scoring for FSC, sinking back-to-back 3-pointers in the first two and half minutes of action. FSU quickly tied the game and went on a 9-0 run to take a 15-6 lead right at the four-minute mark. Randgaard sank a shot beyond the arc to stop the run and cut the lead to 6, 15-9. The teams would exchange possessions ending with an 8-4 run in favor of the Broncos and head into the second quarter with a 10-point lead.
A jumper in the paint from Randgaard opened the second quarter, but it was FSU who answered back, going on an 11-0 run to get out to a 19-point lead with just over five minutes remaining in the first half. The Mocs would hit a few free throws to try and stay in it until
Sarah Lange's and one late in the quarter. As time dwindled down the Broncos hit an and one of their own and headed into the locker room with a 25-point lead, 47-22.
Fayetteville State opened with the largest lead of the game, scoring a 3-pointer for a 28-point lead, 48-22. Florida Southern shots started to fall, cutting the Broncos lead down to 17 as
Anna Denes started the scoring that ended the three consecutive 3s from Bracero, Randgaard, and Gomes to make it 54-37 with 6:19 left in the third. Fouls and free throws controlled the remainder of the quarter as Gomes went 8-for-8 from the line and ended the quarter with 68-49.
The Mocs continued to try and rally with the Broncos as
Nia Blocton scored her first collegiate points, but it was still not enough as the second quarter point deficit was too hard to come back from and Florida Southern fell on the first road game of the season.
Florida Southern jumps right back into action tomorrow, Nov. 30 as they travel to Mount Olive to face the Trojans. Tipoff is set for 12 p.m.
