Box Score
SAINT LEO, Fla. -
Ashley Lutz led all scorers with 21 points but it was not enough as the Saint Leo Lions (11-5, 4-2 SSC) stormed back in the second half, erasing a 16-point deficit en route to defeating the Eckerd Tritons (6-8, 1-5 SSC), 60-58, on Wednesday evening at the Marion Bowman Center.
In the first half, a three-pointer by
Jordan Stacey capped a 23-10 run to start the game. In the final 8:23 of the half, however, the Lions out-scored the Tritons, 16-12, trimming Eckerd's lead to 35-26 at the half.
In the second half, Eckerd expanded its lead to 46-30 on a three by
Tijana Brdar with 17:10 to go. Unfortunately, Saint Leo responded in a big way, going on a 24-7 run over the next 14:56 to take a 54-53 lead with 2:14 to go.
A basket by Willonda Windham, followed by a pair of free throws by Brittany Carannante, expanded Saint Leo's lead to 58-53 with 27 seconds left.
Stephanie Grace nailed a three with 11 seconds left to pull the Tritons within two points, but, another pair of Carannante free throws iced the game prior to Lutz hitting a fastbreak layup at the buzzer.
For the game, Eckerd shot 40 percent while holding Saint Leo to 37 percent. The Lions, however, out-rebounded the Tritons, 45-34.
Tijana Brdar added nine points while SLU's Gekeela Clemmons led the home team with 19 points.
Eckerd will return to action on Saturday, January 23 as it travels to Boca Raton, Fla. to battle the Lynn Fighting Knights at 2pm.
