Box Score
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – With the approach of a stealthy assassin, sophomore guard
Taylor Bestry beat the final horn with a three from the wing, propelling the Eckerd College women's basketball program to an emotional road upset over No. 20 Nova Southeastern University on Wednesday evening, 63-61.
After EC was trailing by two points with 18 seconds left on the game clock, the Tritons (9-9, 5-5 SSC) eventually worked the ball around on the drive and kicked out to Bestry, who planted her feet and calmly sank the triple in front of the Eckerd bench to send her teammates in hysteria as the ball found the bottom of the net.
The wild finish capped off an intriguing barnburner in NSU Arena after the Tritons led for the majority of the game.
Bestry scored all 11 of her points in the second half and already had a flair for the dramatic this season after sinking game-winning free throws at Rollins on the road before tonight's clutch achievement.
The picture-perfect shot brought shades of resemblance nearly two years ago when former three-point deadeye
Kati Rausberg connected from deep at Nova Southeastern back on Feb. 2, 2011, to beat the buzzer.
After Eckerd called the initial timeout, the Sharks countered with a timeout of their own in an attempt to observe the Tritons' offensive set.
“We had two designed plays in the final possession and initially wanted to get the ball to Krystal (Charles), who had carried us all game long,” explained EC Head Coach
Paul Honsinger. “But they collapsed in and we didn't have a lot in the high-low scenario (before we called the first timeout). Kayla (Bowlin) sucked in the defense and it was a great drive and kick on her part as Tibby (Bestry) showed from the back.”
“We've done well against zones this year and it knocked us off balance when they showed (to prompt the first timeout), but I thought we would find our spots if they came back with it again,” he continued.
The Tritons have now knocked off three of the Sunshine State Conference giants, including No. 13 Rollins College and No. 10 University of Tampa along with the 20th-ranked Sharks.
Eckerd also prevented the Sharks (15-5, 7-3 SSC) from taking sole possession of first after Florida Tech was idle this week. The Tritons halted a three-game skid in league play and gained redemption in the regular-season series after NSU stormed St. Petersburg for a 26-point win in the prior meeting.
Senior forward
Krystal Charles bruised her way to a game-high 20 points on 9-of-10 shooting to go with six rebounds, three blocks and three assists. Sophomore
Kayla Bowlin, credited with the game-winning helper, scored 10 along with freshman guard
Annie Armstrong.
The Tritons shot 55 percent from the field, controlling the tempo early, and began the game on a 16-7 run.
EC led for the entire first half and extended its cushion to double-digits on Bestry's first three early in the second half. With 6:40 left in regulation, NSU took its first lead of the night for a 54-53 advantage, but the Tritons regained control by four after a three-point play and bank shot in the post from Charles.
The Sharks grabbed their final lead with 1:24 after Tailor Jones made a pair of free throws. EC held strong defensively on the final NSU possession and had plenty of time to strategize for the game winner.
“I think it puts us back in the mix of things and from here, if we can start climbing the ladder, it would be huge,” Honsinger said. “It was a big win for us on the road and hopefully boosts our confidence to start closing out some games.”
Eckerd returns to the McArthur Center on Saturday afternoon, welcoming Florida Tech for the second regular-season meeting of the campaign. The Tritons and Panthers will battle beginning at 2 p.m. this weekend.
