Box Score Eckerd-Tampa Box Score
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The University of Tampa used an 11-0 run in the second half to take a 63-54 win over the Eckerd College women's basketball team on Wednesday at the McArthur Center.
Lindsay Watson scored 20 points, while Taja Green added 14 points and 14 rebounds. Gianna Messina chipped in 15 points, as the Spartans (10-2, 3-0 Sunshine State Conference) won their ninth straight game.
Senior guard Ashley Lutz paced Eckerd (8-4, 2-1) with 19 points on 6-for-10 shooting. Krystal Charles had 11 points and a team-high seven rebounds.
Junior Kati Rausberg had 11 points and became the school's career leader for 3-pointers made.
The Tritons held their own despite shooting just 34 percent from the field, including 29 percent in the first half.
Despite the cold shooting, the game was tied at 29-29 with 17:24 remaining following a Rausberg 3-pointer. The Spartans, though, used an 11-0 run – holding Eckerd scoreless for more than six minutes – to extend a four-point lead to 52-37 with 7:17 left.
The Tritons rallied with a 10-0 run to cut the deficit to 52-47 with four minutes to play. But Tampa went 11-for-12 from the free-throw line during the final two minutes to cinch the win.
“I thought we executed fine and got the looks we wanted, but we just couldn't hit the open shots tonight,” said Eckerd head coach Paul Honsinger. “That is uncharacteristic of our team. With that said, I was happy with how we defended, and we had some good energy.
“We still did a lot of good things tonight, and while we're very disappointed with the outcome, we should walk away with some positives.”
Eckerd will travel to Rollins for a 2 p.m. matchup on Saturday.
