LAKELAND, Fla. — Florida Southern women's basketball (12-3, 6-2 SSC) fell to No.17 Embry-Riddle, 79-49 (12-2,7-1), at Jenkins Field House.
Sydney Gomes led the team with 15 points, including three 3-pointers, recorded five steals, and three assists to eclipse 300 assists to become just the second player in Florida Southern history to reach the elite 1,000 points, 500 rebounds, and 300 assists club.Â
Lily Pereira tallied 13 points, converting all four of her 3-point attempts, and added two blocks.
Monica Balistrere contributed 10 points and notched four steals alongside two blocks.
Nia Blocton secured eight rebounds and registered two steals.
The Moccasins began the quarter with a strong offensive push, highlighted by
Nia Blocton's offensive rebound and layup, giving them an early lead. Gomes contributed significantly with a fast-break three-pointer assisted by Pereira, extending the advantage to 8–2. Balistrere added another three-pointer to keep the momentum in favor of the home team.
Defensively, Florida Southern College capitalized on Embry-Riddle's turnovers, with Pereira and Gomes both recording steals to maintain defensive pressure. Despite this, the Eagles surged back, narrowing the score through multiple free throws and a late run to take a slight edge. The quarter concluded with the Eagles leading 19–16.
The second quarter saw a significant shift in momentum as FSC capitalized on defensive opportunities early, with Gomes and Balistrere combining for crucial steals that led to fast-break points. Pereira contributed with two key 3-pointers, helping the team maintain a slight edge. Despite consistent pressure from the Eagles, the team managed to stay competitive, with the scoreboard showing a narrow 31–33 deficit at the end of the quarter.
The third quarter saw Embry-Riddle gain momentum early, overcoming the Moccasins' lead with a series of successful possessions in the paint. FSC initially opened with a 3-pointer by Balistrere, assisted by
Gianna Vos, but struggled to maintain the lead. Despite defensive efforts, including a steal by Balistrere, the Eagles managed to capitalize on their opportunities, scoring consistently with layups and free throws.
The Mocs attempted to narrow the gap with contributions from Gomes and
Carlota Gomez Alonso, who both converted on free throws. Vos also hit a critical 3-pointer to keep the scoring close. However, Embry-Riddle's offensive efficiency, marked by strong rebounding and second-chance points, extended their lead. The quarter closed with the Eagles leading 55–45, outscoring FSC 22–14 in the third quarter.
The Eagles opened the fourth quarter with a strong 3-pointer from Alyssa Brasko at 9:24, extending their advantage. Florida Southern struggled offensively, missing several attempts despite securing seven offensive rebounds. Balistrere provided a block at 7:23, but FSC couldn't capitalize on the defensive stop.
The Eagles continued to dominate the inside, scoring multiple points in the paint, including a fastbreak layup by Eliana Sheplee at 7:23. The Mocs managed a lone 3-pointer by Gomes at 3:30, assisted by Pereira, but faced difficulties with field goal conversions throughout the quarter.
The quarter closed with the Eagles maintaining control, leading to a final score of 79–49. Florida Southern's efforts were highlighted by their defensive rebounds but fell short in reducing the deficit.
Looking ahead, the Moccasins will face Eckerd on Saturday, Jan. 17. The game will tip off at 2 p.m. FSC will be on the road for this matchup.
