Box Score Eckerd-UPR Bayamon Box Score
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – It has been a work in progress for the Eckerd College women's basketball team to start the 2010-11 season, but the results have still been perfect.
Kati Rausberg had 17 points, one of four Tritons in double figures, as Eckerd rolled to a 64-48 win over Puerto Rico-Bayamon on Friday at the EC Thanksgiving Classic.
The Tritons (3-0) had a few struggles offensively but used six three-pointers in the second half to continue their unbeaten start.
“We're not where we want to be offensively, but we had some good possessions – particularly in the second half,” said Eckerd head coach Paul Honsinger. “Kati helped us open up the game with her shooting in the second half, and that was the key.”
Rausberg was 5-for-7 from three-point range, including three treys in the first 10 minutes of the second half, to help Eckerd build a double-figure lead.
The Tritons, who only led 29-27 at halftime, got 12 points from both Ashley Lutz and Linsey Niles. Taylor Young added 11 points and a game-high nine rebounds.
Keisha Bachour led the Cowgirls (0-4) with a game-high 21 points.
Bachour had 11 points in the first half to help UPR-Bayamon stay in it. Her three-pointer with four minutes left in the first half gave the visitors a 24-23 lead.
Eckerd scored the final four points of the frame and started the second half on an 11-3 run to build a 40-30 advantage. The Tritons never led by less than eight points the rest of the way.
Eckerd took advantage of 22 Cowgirl turnovers, which led to 25 points.
“We held them to five field goals in the second half,” Honsinger said. “We were scrappy defensively and got a lot of loose balls.”
Eckerd out-rebounded the Cowgirls 36-24 (13-6 offensive) and shot 44 percent overall. The hosts were 8-for-20 from three-point range (40 percent).
The Tritons will face No. 13 Clayton State at 3 p.m. on Saturday. The Lakers defeated Florida Southern 82-73 in the first game of the day.
