Box Score
LAKELAND, Fla. – The Eckerd College women's basketball program permitted just 13 points in the second half and was deadly from the foul line to put away Florida Southern College on Wednesday night in the Jenkins Field House, 54-39.
Sophomore
Rana Thomas tied a career high with 12 points and junior forward
Liga Vente notched a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds to help lead the Tritons (6-6, 3-2 SSC). Senior
Krystal Charles was also in double figures with 10 and hauled in six rebounds.
The Mocs (7-7, 2-3 SSC) dropped below .500 in the Sunshine State Conference despite 13 points and eight boards from Moriah Harris.
For Eckerd's seventh-year head coach
Paul Honsinger, it marked his 87th career win in seven years on the sidelines as he crept closer to the century mark -- and his very first victory at Florida Southern.
As a program, the Tritons recorded their first win in Lakeland in over a decade, last beating FSC on its home court back in 2002.
The Tritons, who came in leading the Sunshine State Conference in free throw percentage, were 20-of-22 (22-of-24 overall) from the charity stripe in the second half when both teams struggled to make just three field goals each in the final 20 minutes of play.
The Mocs played into one of the Tritons' strengths with two minutes and change remaining while trying to claw back from a double-digit deficit.
Sophomore
Kayla Bowlin guard was a perfect 8-for-8 at the line down the stretch. She also handed out four assists, all in the first half.
The atmosphere inside the Jenkins Field House appropriately represented “Pink Out Night” as the Mocs did their part in supporting breast cancer awareness/research.
Early on, the Tritons snapped a 16-16 tie with back-to-back three pointers by sophomore
Taylor Bestry (banked in off glass) and freshman
Kaitlin Jackson.
Eckerd cashed in on five treys in the first half, saving the best for last.
Following a kick-out in the lane from Bowlin with the shot and game clock winding down, Charles sank a three with 10 seconds left in the first half to put the Tritons back on top heading into the locker room, 27-26.
Eckerd started the second half on a 9-1 run while holding the Mocs to just one point in a near nine-minute span to open up a nine-point edge.
Charles pushed the lead to double digits for the first time with 9:45 remaining, her third three of the evening rained in from the corner.
Bestry had her impressive streak of 30 consecutive free throws made dating back to last year come to an end following a trip to the line early in the second half. The sophomore is now shooting nearly 96 percent on the year.
Freshman starting guard
Annie Armstrong (11.2 ppg) was out with an injury after she landed awkwardly pursuing a rebound against Florida Tech.
Thomas made the game's opening field goal and finished 4-of-8 from the field. She also knocked down all four of her free throws, upping her season percentage to 92 percent.
The Tritons return to the McArthur Center this weekend to host Barry University on Saturday afternoon. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m.
