Box Score
SAVANNAH, Ga. – Junior
Liga Vente recorded a double-double with 16 points and 14 rebounds to lead a strong effort on the road as the Eckerd College women's basketball program suffered a season-opening defeat against Armstrong Atlantic University on Friday night, 68-57.
Vente, a transfer from Colby (Kan.) Community College, led four Tritons (0-1, 0-0 SSC) in double figures against the Pirates (1-0, 0-0 PBC), who turned the tide with a 14-3 run to close out the game.
Senior forward
Krystal Charles scored 14 points while sophomore swingman
Taylor Bestry and freshman guard
Annie Armstrong each scored 10.
Michigan State University transfer Bryonna Davis scored 15 of her game-high 21 points from long range and Demisha Mills scored 18 while adding five rebounds and handing out five assists for Armstrong Atlantic. The Pirates were without the services of Mauri Wells, who averaged a double-double spanning 2011-12.
The Tritons were coming off a challenging preseason schedule that included trips to Division I affiliates Florida Gulf Coast University and No. 9 University of Louisville. Armstrong Atlantic was coming off a preseason overtime victory against crosstown rival and Div. I program, Savannah State University.
“In the second half, we settled in and made a big run,” EC Head Coach
Paul Honsinger said. “I thought the margin on the glass was good, but we turned it over like crazy. They were quick and athletic and pressured out more, no doubt about that.”
“Liga (Vente) had a good game and we had balanced scoring from our starters,” he continued. “All the percentages were good across the board except taking care of the ball.”
The Tritons trailed by as many as 13 and rallied to knot the score at 54-54 following a three-point basket netted by Armstrong with 6:55 left in regulation.
Making her collegiate debut, Armstrong scored all 10 of her points in the second half hauled in five rebounds.
Eckerd dominated the glass against the Pirates, doubling up AAU on the boards, 44-22, but were plagued with turnovers and committed 25 to its opponent's nine. The Pirates cashed in on the Tritons' miscues, scoring 24 points off turnovers.
Vente accounted for eight of her team's first 14 points out of the gates and converted her first four attempts from the field. She was just two rebounds shy of a double-double by halftime and was a perfect 6-for-6 from the foul line.
Armstrong Atlantic gained some separation before halftime with an 8-0 run.
Trailing by 13 at the break, the Tritons chipped away at the double-digit deficit, engineering a 7-0 run to make it a one-point game with 14 minutes to play.
But the offense went stagnant down the stretch following the 54-54 stalemate and Armstrong's trey was the only points put on the scoreboard by the Tritons in the final 6:55.
The Tritons will try and right the ship next Wednesday in West Palm Beach, heading to face Northwood University for a 5:30 p.m. tip-off.
