Box Score
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. –
Linsey Niles knocked down a trio of three-point field goals as part of her 20 points and the Eckerd College women's basketball program had high shooting percentages across the board to hand Lynn University a defeat to close the regular season on Senior Day, 66-51.
For the seniors Niles,
Kati Rausberg and
Taylor Young, it was their final regular-season appearance in the McArthur Center, but thanks to a few dominoes tumbling across the rest of the Sunshine State Conference, they will get one more final encore in front of their home fans.
In addition to the Tritons grabbing a win against the Fighting Knights (12-14, 7-9 SSC) on Saturday, the University of Tampa beat Florida Tech and Rollins College beat Nova Southeastern University.
By virtue of a regular-season sweep against Nova Southeastern and Florida Tech, the Tritons emerged from a three-way tiebreaker for the No. 4 seed as all three programs finished with 8-8 league marks.
As a result, fourth-seeded Eckerd will host one of four quarterfinal matchups in the SSC Tournament next Wednesday, Feb. 29, at 5:30 p.m. against No. 5 seed Nova Southeastern. The four remaining quarterfinal winners would then advance to the tournament semifinals hosted by Florida Southern College in Lakeland on Saturday, March 3.
“I was thrilled that our seniors won on what was their night,” EC Head Coach
Paul Honsinger said. “They've exemplified everything that it is to be part of the women's basketball program here at Eckerd. They play really hard, they're good students, they're good citizens on campus and they're winners.”
“They have carried us this year and raised the bar for our younger players,” he added.
The Tritons (15-10, 8-8 SSC) shot nearly 47 percent from the floor (50 percent in the second half), over 53 percent from long range (8-of-15) and converted 16-of-20 shots from the free-throw line (80 percent).
After the Tritons broke free from four ties in the first half, the last at 25-25, Eckerd closed the final 2:31 of the opening frame on a 5-0 run keyed by back-to-back buckets by Niles.
EC earned its first double-digit lead in the second half after one of Niles' treys and the Tritons pushed the insurmountable edge to 20 with over three minutes left in regulation.
EC held a 33-25 edge on the glass and avenged an overtime loss earlier in the season on the road in Boca Raton.
Krystal Charles grabbed 10 rebounds to go with nine points, just one point shy from a double-double.
“The shooting helps everything,” Honsinger said. “We also outrebounded them and that was not the case at their place. We limited them to one-and-done. Rebounding and playing well defensively under 10 seconds (on the shot clock) was an unsung hero behind our shooting.”
The Tritons' focus now shifts solely on the fifth-seeded Sharks from Nova Southeastern, who have won four of their last five.
“There are no secrets at this point,” said Honsinger about EC and NSU's third meeting. “I think the team that's able to impose their style of play on the other will win the game. We've had big margins in both games and I think we've played three very good halves out of four against Nova (Southeastern). I'm hoping we can put two good halves together here at home on Wednesday night.”
Stay tuned to EckerdTritons.com for additional SSC Tournament information leading up to Wednesday's game.
