Box Score
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Senior guard
Kati Rausberg scored 21 points,
Linsey Niles added 17 and
Amy Buccilla totaled 10, as the Eckerd College women's basketball program defeated Palm Beach Atlantic University for the second time this season on Saturday, 65-57.
Niles also grabbed nine rebounds and senior guard
Taylor Young had four steals to complement nine points. Freshman
Emilie Hesseldal returned to the lineup after a 10-game absence due to a lower-leg injury.
The Tritons (13-8, 6-6 SSC) improved their home record at the McArthur Center to 9-3 on the year and completed the season sweep against the Sailfish (4-19 overall) dating back to a Jan. 14 matchup in West Palm Beach.
Rausberg's long-range barrage included five triples on the night to account for 15 of her 21. She was also a perfect 4-of-4 from the free throw line and played virtually the entire 40 minutes on the court.
The senior deadeye's effort overshadowed a 31-point performance by PBA's Selethia Jackson, who erupted on 13-of-19 shooting from the floor.
Eckerd broke an early 6-6 tie and went on a 9-2 run to ease ahead.
The Tritons enjoyed their first double-digit lead in the first half at the 9:39 mark on a three by Rausberg and pulled ahead by 12 after a three by Buccilla to eventually take a 35-25 advantage the break.
Five straight points by Jackson and a three-point play from Ashley Dolberry whittled the lead down to five. Another bucket by Jackson closed the gap to just three and Jordan Kong temporarily completed the rally with a three to put PBA up by one.
Jackson and Niles traded longballs to knot things up at 45-45 and Rausberg and Kong exchanged treys again for the game's fifth tie at 50-all.
With 3:53 remaining, EC broke open the game's sixth tie at 52-52 and finished the game on a 13-5 run. The Tritons were near perfect at the free throw line inside the three-minute mark, making 12 consecutive shots from the charity stripe to preserve the lead down the stretch.
The Tritons have just two home games remaining on the schedule (Barry University, Lynn University) and will travel to the University of Tampa next Wednesday for a 5:30 p.m. affair in the Bob Martinez Center.
