Box Score
LAKELAND, Fla. -
Kati Rausberg scored 23 points, including a game-tying three with 15 seconds left in regulation, while
Tijana Brdar added a career-high 20 points, but it was not enough as the Florida Southern Moccasins (12-1, 3-0 SSC) erased a 19-point first half deficit to defeat the Eckerd Tritons (5-5, 0-2 SSC), 78-68, in overtime on Wednesday evening at Jenkins Fieldhouse.
In a near-flawless first half, Rausberg helped the Tritons jump out to a 15-8 lead, scoring nine of the squad's points on three made threes in the opening 7:10 of the game. Eckerd extended its lead to 25-14 with 5:51 to go on a drive and layup by Lutz.
The Tritons would get their largest lead of the half at 37-18 after a pair of consecutive layups made by Brdar. Thanks to a three-pointer by Southern's Megan Dzikas, however, Eckerd go into the locker room ahead 37-21 at the half.
Both Rausberg and Brdar ended the half with double figures, scoring 11 and 13 points, respectively. The Tritons shot an impressive 51.7 percent from the field in the half while holding the Mocs to just 24.1 percent on 7-of-29 shooting.
In the second half, a different team came out of the Florida Southern locker room as the Mocs began the half on a 15-7 run with the help of a relentless full court press that caused seven turnovers, trimming the Eckerd lead to 44-36 with 13:33 to go.
Florida Southern would continue to bring the pressure, tying the game and eventually taking at 56-54 lead with 5:34 to play. After the Mocs made it 58-54, a
Jordan Stacey free throw followed by a three by
Taylor Young tied the game again at 58-58.
Down the stretch, Florida Southern would climb out to a 64-59 lead on a jumper by Chelsea Johnson with 1:04 to go but Eckerd found the answer in the final minute, rallying to tie the game on a jumper by Brdar and Rausberg's three with 15 seconds left, forcing overtime.
In the extra session, it was all Florida Southern as the Tritons were out-scored 14-4 as FSC's Nicole DiRaimo led all players with six points in the frame.
For the game, Eckerd out-shot the Mocs 45 to 32.9 percent from the field while getting out-rebounded, 50-44.
Rausberg and Young led Eckerd with eight rebounds each while
Ashley Lutz and Brdar collected 12 points and six blocks, respectively. DiRaimo led Southern with 18 points and 17 boards while Michaela Hawley poured in 21 points.
Eckerd will return to action on Saturday, January 9 as it travels to Fort Lauderdale, Fla. to face the Nova Southeastern Sharks at 2pm at NSU's University Center.
