Box Score
TAMPA, Fla. – The Eckerd College women's basketball program erased an early 11-point deficit, but a potential game-winning shot as time expired fell just short as the University of Tampa avoided the regular-season sweep and held on for a 46-45 victory on Wednesday night.
One game removed from becoming the eighth player in Eckerd College history to eclipse 1,000 career points, senior guard
Kati Rausberg finished with seven points to bring her all-time scoring mark to 1,020 points.
With the record-breaking performance, Rausberg moves past Kathy Bonollo (1986-1990) to stand seventh place on the all-time scoring charts. She is scheduled to be honored this weekend at halftime of the men's basketball game vs. Barry University.
“Kati has been terrific and she's been consistent,” EC Head Coach
Paul Honsinger said. “She's been a great leader for us and deserves every accomplishment that she's had in her career to this point. We're going to be missing her output next year.”
The Spartans (10-14, 3-11 SSC) scored four unanswered points in the final two minutes and avenged a 76-65 loss to the Tritons (13-9, 6-7 SSC) in January.
Despite shooting only 38 percent (17-for-51) from the field, the Spartans were paced offensively by a double-double effort from guard Kamari Smith, who finished with 13 points and a game-high 15 rebounds.
“We missed shots,” Honsinger added. “We had some good opportunities that we couldn't finish inside.”
The Spartans poured in 11 unanswered points over the first eight minutes of the contest to jump out an early advantage, but a lay-in from Rausberg started an impressive first-half comeback for Eckerd.
With 2:41 remaining in the half, a pair of free throws from freshman
Kayla Bowlin gave the Tritons their first lead of the game at 21-20, but yet another Spartan offensive run gave Tampa a 27-23 lead at the break.
Senior forward
Linsey Niles paced the Tritons in the first half with eight points and three rebounds.
After trailing for the first nine minutes of the second half, another basket from Niles added to her team-high 13 points and put the Tritons ahead 36-35 with 10:16 remaining. Two minutes later, a lay-in from Rausberg gave Eckerd its largest lead of the night at 40-35.
A pair of free throws from Bowlin put Eckerd up 45-42, but a basket from Tampa's Britny Taylor and two shots from the charity stripe from Smith put the Spartans ahead 46-45 with 1:38 remaining.
Numerous possession changes gave the Tritons the ball with six seconds to play, but the final shot was offline as the Spartans survived down the stretch.
The Tritons take the court again this Saturday for a 2 p.m. tip-off with Barry University. In partnership with the Women's Basketball Coaches Association's (WBCA) Pink Zone Initiative, the Tritons will donate a portion of generated proceeds to the Kay Yow Cancer Fund.
Read about how you can help for Saturday's game
here.
