Box Score
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Hayley Thompson sank the go-ahead and eventual winning shot with 32 seconds remaining to derail a home victory from the Eckerd College women's basketball program on Wednesday night, 55-54.
Thompson's game-winner wiped out an impressive Eckerd comeback down from a 12-point, second-half deficit, and also ended the Tritons' (3-2, 0-0 SSC) three-game win streak.
After AMU's Annie Artise missed both free throws with 15 ticks on the clock, the Tritons' final possession and last chance to win was an offline three-point hoist by senior forward
Krystal Charles.
Freshman
Annie Armstrong's lone field goal was part of a critical three-point play that knotted things up at 53-53 with 1:45 left, representing the game's seventh tie at that juncture.
Sophomore
Rana Thomas connected on the first of a trip to the free-throw line to restore EC's advantage, but Thompson's turnaround shot in the paint rattled home to seal the final decision on the scoreboard.
Honorable Mention NAIA All-American Emily Huber paced the Gyrenes (5-3, 0-0 TSC) with 19 points, hovering around her season average. Erin Murphy chipped in 14 for Ave Maria, which also claimed a 2011-12 matchup against EC.
Junior
Liga Vente scored 16 on 7-of-10 shooting and freshman guard
Kaitlin Jackson sparked the offense in the second half, netting all of her 10 points in the final frame.
After lighting it up from deep in the first four games of the season, the Tritons seemingly couldn't get a break against the deceptively quick closeouts from the Gyrenes. EC finished 2-of-17 from three-point territory, riding both triples from the hot hand of Jackson.
The Tritons were averaging 8.5 treys per game coming into tonight's contest.
After back-to-back baskets by Vente to come out of halftime, Ave Maria mustered an 8-0 run to pave the way for a double-digit advantage that was capped by a steal and layup in transition from Lauren Peters.
Murphy put the Gyrenes up by a dozen with 14:52 left before the Tritons surged to remain within striking distance.
A 22-6 run by the Tritons turned the tables and put Eckerd up by four with a 50-46 edge.
Jackson sank her first three-pointer to slice the deficit to five and brought the crowd to life by making it a three-point game on the next Eckerd possession.
Jackson converted two free throws before tying the game at 44-44 off a nice midrange jumper from the baseline.
Thomas grabbed seven rebounds to tie for the team lead and crashed the offensive glass with four boards.
Eckerd will face rival and 13th-ranked Rollins College on Saturday in Winter Park, officially opening up Sunshine State Conference play. The Tritons and Tars will tip at 2 p.m. in the afternoon.
