Box Score ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - After going up 6-0, the Eckerd College women's basketball team never looked back defeating LIU – Post on Saturday, 79-49.
Ivana Grbic posted a stellar first half that started off with four points, a steal and an assist all in the first four minutes of play.
Rana Thomas got going with a three to put her team up, 13-7, with 14 minutes remaining in the first half.
Kayla Bowlin was able to make a great pass into Grbic who dropped it in off the glass for two, giving EC an 11 point lead up 20-9. The Tritons increased their lead to 15 when
Margaret Sundberg came into the game and began raining threes, hitting two consecutive shots from behind the arch.
A deep three from
Victoria Vine gave the Tritons a 39-16 lead with under three minutes left on the clock. The Pioneers were able to battle back and knocked in open shots in the final two minutes, but went into the locker room trailing 39-22. Grbic ended the first half with nine points, three assists and two rebounds.
The second half was an impressive display of the EC offense. Eckerd ripped off a 15-1 run to start the final 20 minutes of the contest. The defense stepped up allowing only nine points in the first 10 minutes pulling away with a 62-31 advantage.
Thomas and Vine combined for 21 second half points as Eckerd downed the Pioneers, 79-42. Vine matched a career high with 18 points has she hit three threes going 7 for 11 from the floor. Thomas matched her season average with 16 points with Bowlin leading the way with nine assists.
"It was a solid team win tonight," said Head Coach,
Paul Honsinger. "Our defensive energy was key for us today. It translated into easy transition points.
Honsinger went on to say, "I was particularly happy with our effort to start the second half. We had a nice lead and we didn't give them a chance to get back in the game."
Eckerd (8-2, 0-1) will host Southwest Baptist of the MIAA for their final home game of 2014. The Tritons and Bearcats will meet up Wednesday Dec. 31 with tip-off scheduled for 2 p.m.
