Women's Basketball Defeat Lions in Fourth Quarter Nail-Biter

SAINT LEO, Fla. - The Florida Southern College women's basketball team defeated Saint Leo University, 83-81 in a down-to-the-wire game at the Marion Bowman Activities Center on Saturday afternoon in Sunshine State Conference action.
 
The Moccasins (8-8, 3-6 SSC) were led by Lily Randgaard and Anna Denes, with Randgaard posting her fifth 20 point game of the season and Denes recording a double-double in back-to-back games for the first time in her career. Denes led the Mocs in rebounds with 13 and was one of five who scored double-digit points.
 
The Lions had three finish with double-digit figures as Jumoke Adaramoye contributed a team-high of 22 points followed by Olivia Agunzo with 19 and Alanis Diaz with 18 points.
 
In the first win of the new year, the Mocs excelled early, forcing turnovers and scoring points off turnovers as they opened on a 10-0 run. After the early stretch Saint Leo responded with some points of their own as the first quarter ended with Florida Southern up 19-10. 
 
Catalina Ion started off the second quarter with a three pointer to return the Mocs lead to double-figures before Saint Leo continued to claw their way back into the game. Both teams traded buckets following the Ion make with Saint Leo capitalizing on Moc mistakes on the offensive glass and turnovers.
 
FSC found ways to counter Saint Leo's attack with efficient offense throughout the second quarter, shooting above 50% from the field and from three. The Lions outscored the Mocs 25-24 in the quarter, as they continued to crash the glass and score effectively, as they shot above 50% from the field.
 
Florida Southern entered the third quarter up 43-35 and looked to continue their shot making from all three levels, but Saint Leo got the first make of the second half before the teams returned to trading baskets.
 
The two teams battled throughout the third with stretches of consecutive possession with makes and stretches of scoreless play. The most consistent element of the third quarter, however, was offensive rebounds by both teams as the Mocs had six offensive rebounds and the Lions had four.
 
Nearing the end of the third, Saint Leo found themselves down one with five seconds to go before Randgaard sunk a three in the final moments of the third off an Arriyana Bracero assist, leaving the Mocs up by four, 62-58.
 
Florida Southern came out aggressive in the fourth, scoring on their first five possessions down the court thanks to the free throw line and rebounding, outscoring Saint Leo 8-2 during the sequence. 
 
The Lions responded with free throws and timely buckets to continue to bring the game closer, but the Mocs held on to their lead thanks to the offensive output of Randgaard, Bracero and Denes who accounted for the Mocs' final 16 points.
 
The Mocs will return home to take on Rollins College Wednesday, Jan. 22 at the George Jenkins Field House. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
 
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