Box Score VALDOSTA, Ga. – The regular season started with a bang Friday night for the Eckerd College women's basketball team who defeated Valdosta State, 76-59, on the first day of the Holiday Inn Conference Challenge.
Rana Thomas got the scoring started in the first half with a two point jumper. The Blazers would head down to the other end of the court and tie it up to begin the back and forth battle that continued throughout the first half.
Amy Duke of Valdosta State hit a three pointer and then a free throw to give her team their largest lead of the first half, 11-7. The Tritons proceeded to go on a 10-0 run with
Victoria Vine hitting a three for the exclamation point.
EC could not pull away as VSU battled back, eventually taking the lead, 23-22 with 8:16 left in the first half. Thomas continued her scoring surge putting her team back out in front with a four point lead, 38-34, heading into halftime.
The Blazers put in the first points of the second half before the Tritons opened up the game by going on a 16-4 run. EC was able to hold Valdosta State to 25 second half points on their way to a 76-59 victory.
Vine set the bar high posting a career best 18 points while hitting 3 of 5 from behind the three point line.
Trine Kasemagi,
Jordyn Alexander and Thomas all ended in double-digits with 12, 13 and 15 points respectively.
The Tritons shot 58 percent from floor along with going 18 for 21 from the free throw line. The EC bench was responsible for 15 points in the contest.
"I was very happy with our effort and execution tonight," said Head Coach,
Paul Honsinger. "We shared the ball great, scored inside and out and were very balanced. Overall, it was a very good showing for our first game."
Eckerd (1-0) will be right back on the court Saturday to take on the University of West Georgia. The game is slated to begin at 2 p.m.
