LAKELAND, Fla. - The Florida Southern College women's basketball team returned to Jenkins Field House after a week on the road and finished victorious defeating Florida Tech in Sunshine State Conference play, 72-55 on Saturday afternoon.
The Moccasins (5-4, 2-2 SSC) had three finish in double figures as
Sydney Gomes led the way with 15 points, followed by
Arriyana Bracero with 13 points, and
Anna Denes with 11. FSC's defense kept the Panthers (4-4, 1-3 SSC) from scoring double digits but was led by Tai Robers and Breazia Robinson both contributing nine.
The first quarter started as anyone's game, with six lead changes and two ties to close out the opening quarter of action.
In the second quarter, Florida Southern took a nine-point lead thanks to a
Lily Randgaard jumper, a 3-pointer, and a layup from Gomes, for a 20-9 advantage. Florida Tech was able to close within four, but back-to-back fouls in favor of the Mocs sent
Lily Pereira and
Sarah Lange to the line, both going 2-2.
With just under six minutes in the first half, the Panthers went on a 10-0 run to tie the game and take the lead, 26-24. Bracero's layup at the 1:39 mark tied the game once again 26-26 and both teams followed with exchanging possessions that ended with the game tied at 30-all at halftime.
Florida Southern came out of the break and quickly took back the lead as Denes hit both free throws for a 32-30 advantage. Both teams hit back-to-back layups in the paint within 10 seconds exchanging points until
Catalina Ion started a 20-1 run to close out the remainder of the third quarter, 56-38.
In the fourth quarter, the Mocs continued to increase their lead, going on an 11-3 run to earn the largest lead of the game for a 26-point lead from Lange's jumper to make it 67-41. With just under five minutes remaining in regulation, Florida Tech tried to cut into FSC's lead, but the Mocs would close it out as
Gianna Vos hit a jumper to make it 69-49, and
Dakota Daniello would close out the Mocs scoring with a shot beyond the arc. The Panthers sent two players to the line making both free throws to close in but the Mocs' early lead was too much to come back from, winning 72-55.
As a team, the Mocs had the best performance they have seen all season from the line as they went 15-16 from the free throw line.
Florida Southern takes a break from conference action as they host the annual Mocs Christmas Classic on Dec. 20-21. The Mocs will open the tournament facing Trinity College and close it out against Maryville on Dec. 21. Both games are scheduled for 2:00 p.m.
