LAKELAND, Fla. - The Florida Southern College women's basketball team fell just short of an upset on Wednesday evening with a 64-63 final against the #23/RV University of Tampa in Jenkins Field House.
The Moccasins (10-9,5-7 Sunshine State Conference) were led by
Sydney Gomes putting up 21 points followed by
Lily Pereira with 15 and
Catalina Ion with 11 to finish out the double-digit scoring.
The Spartans (18-4,10-2 SSC) had three finish with double-figures as Marissa McDonald led the way with 19 points and Zoe Piller and Sariana Rodriquez dished out 12 and 11 respectively.
FSC opened the action with a jumper from Gomes but Piller quickly tied the game up at two-all. After a four-minute scoring drought, Tampa hit a 3-pointer to give the Spartans its first lead of the game.
The Moccasins fought back and tied the game with a Pereira three to make it 7-all, before
Anna Denes' jumper gave FSC back the lead, 9-7. Tampa tied the game once again for Florida Southern's offense turned up the heat going on a 9-0 run with 3-pointers from Pereira,
Gianna Vos, and Ion to end the first quarter with an 18-11 lead.
Florida Southern continued to keep the lead the entire second quarter but the Spartans rallied back to come within one, with a 16-10 run to come within one of the Mocs lead.
Out of halftime, Tampa broke the silence first to take a one-point lead as both teams exchanged possessions until just under the eight-minute mark. Rodriguez took a lead for the Spartans as Tampa rallied behind her to go on a 9-0 run.
Gomes stopped the Spartans' run by sinking a 3-pointer, but Tampa continued to rally in the third quarter to take a 49-44 lead into the final quarter.
The Mocs rallied in the fourth quarter going on a 9-4 run to tie the game with a Pereira three,
Bre'Asia Washington jumper, and back-to-back Gomes baskets to make it 53-53. Tampa took back a lead but Pereira's layup gave Florida Southern the first lead since early in the third.
Mocs continued to push the lead to four with a Gomes layup and three before the Spartans started the comeback. Tampa was able to come within two with made free throws before taking a 62-61 lead, sinking a shot beyond the arc with just over 30 seconds remaining.
Pereira hit a must-make shot to take back a one-point lead but the Spartans late jumper with two seconds left gave Tampa the 64-63 win over FSC.
As a team, the Mocs lead the Spartans shooting 46.3 (25-for-54) from the field and 41.7 (10-for-24) from the 3-point arc. Where Tampa shot 44.6 (25-for-56) from the field and 23.1 (3-for-13) from the three.
Florida Southern takes a break from action as they travel to St. Petersburg to take on Eckerd College in another SSC match up. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. in McArthur Center
