LAKELAND, Fla. – The Florida Southern College women's basketball team will host the University of Tampa in the quarterfinals of the 2026 Sunshine State Conference Women's Basketball Championship, beginning on Tuesday, March 3. 
 
SSC QUARTERFINAL
OPPONENT: University of Tampa
Location: Lakeland, Fla. | George W. Jenkins Field House
Date: Tuesday, March 3, 2026 | 5:30 p.m.
 
Fourth-seed Moccasins (21-6, 15-5 SSC)
Florida Southern College enters postseason play following one of its most complete and statistically impressive seasons in recent years. The Mocs finished 15-5 in conference action and have built their success on balanced scoring, dominant rebounding, and disruptive defense.

FSC is averaging 76.4 points per game this season while outscoring opponents by nearly 16 points per contest. The Mocs are also pulling down 41.8 rebounds per game, holding a strong advantage on the glass, and dishing out 16.0 assists per game. Defensively, they have turned pressure into production, forcing turnovers that translate into nearly 20 points per game.

Senior guard Sydney Gomes has been the driving force behind the Mocs' success. She leads the team in scoring at 17.1 points per game while also pacing the squad with 96 assists and 168 rebounds, showcasing her all-around impact. 

Carlota Gomez Alonso is averaging 13.3 points per game, providing consistent scoring, while Monica Balistrere and Lily Pereira have added valuable depth with steady contributions throughout conference play. On the boards, Nia Blocton has been a force, averaging 7.4 rebounds per game and helping anchor the interior.

Fifth-seed Spartans (19-10, 14-6 SSC)
Tampa has been a consistent scoring team, averaging approximately 69.2 points per game during the 2025-26 season while shooting efficiently from all areas, including over 40% from three-point range and a solid 76.2% from the free-throw line. The Spartans have also moved the ball well, averaging nearly 15.9 assists per game, and have defended competently, holding opponents under 60 points on many occasions.

On the boards, Tampa averages about 35 rebounds per game. Ryan Franklin was the engine of Tampa's offense this season. Averaging 15.8 points per game on 55.8% shooting, She led the team in scoring and consistently provided a reliable inside presence. Franklin also contributed 7.7 rebounds per game.

Series Matchup
Florida Southern is 68-47 overall when facing the Spartans. The last matchup was on Feb. 21, as the Mocs broke the nine-game losing streak against the Spartans with a 65-62 win at home. When playing in Jenkins Field House against Tampa, FSC is 32-19 overall. The last meeting in the SSC tournament prior to this Tuesday was in the championship game with a 74-64 loss by the Mocs in 2022.
 
Tournament History
The Mocs are 51-29 all-time in the SSC tournament, most recently posting a 1-1 record in the tournament and advancing to the semifinals, where they fell to Eckerd 73-65.
 
NCAA Regional Selection
FSC was ranked 10th in the South Region in the NCAA's Feb. 25 regional rankings. The NCAA women's basketball selection show will be on Sunday, March 8, at 10:30 p.m. on NCAA.com
 
The SSC champion will receive automatic qualification to the 2026 NCAA Division II Championships. Regional competition will take place at non-predetermined site beginning on Friday, March 13th. Elite Eight play will take place Tuesday, March 24th to Saturday, March 28th at the UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The NCAA will announce championship selections and seeding on Sunday, March 8th.