ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – In her final home game, Eckerd College women's basketball senior
Amy Buccilla torched the nets with four three-point field goals as part of 17 points on Wednesday's Senior Night as Saint Leo University eventually prevailed in the McArthur Center, 72-65.
Buccilla was one of two seniors honored in a pregame ceremony with
Liga Vente, who has been sidelined with a leg injury. Buccilla's parents, Mark and Carol, and Vente's host family from the area were able to join them on the floor to celebrate their career accomplishments.
In addition, the Tritons recognized five core senior members from Saint Leo's squad with players from both sides receiving flowers. EC's senior student-athletes were also presented with a commemorative plaque.
The Tritons (10-15, 3-12 SSC) were bidding to increase their chances of better seeding for the upcoming Sunshine State Conference Championship, but in the end, couldn't quite hold off a late charge by the Lions (18-7, 9-6 SSC).
"It was especially nice to honor our seniors for all that they have given to our program," said EC head coach
Paul Honsinger. "From the first day they landed at Eckerd, both Amy and Liga have exemplified everything it means to be a Triton. I am grateful to have coached them both and they will be missed."
Eckerd led for most of the game thanks to a total of 11 three-point buckets made before Saint Leo tied it up at 54-54 on a trip to the line by bruising forward Chelsea Williams with
6:32 left to play.
Williams triggered a 10-0 run to really turn the tide and the Tritons couldn't get a number of looks to fall in the closing moments despite keeping it down to a one-possession game inside the final minute.
Freshman guard
Victoria Vine posted a career-high 16 points with 6-of-9 shooting from the field and hit a pair of treys while junior guard
Rana Thomas recorded 10.
Sophomore guard
Kaitlin Jackson gave the Tritons their first double-digit lead right before the half as she canned a deep three from the corner under durress to beat the shot clock.
On the play before, junior guard
Kayla Bowlin handed out one of her new career-high nine assists as she connected with Thomas on a beautifully-executed backdoor play that had the Lions' defense unprepared.
EC freshman
Sarah Ammons produced seven points and junior
Ivana Grbic, coming off an 8-for-12 effort against Florida Tech, ended with nine.
"Once again, I was very proud of our effort tonight," Honsinger said. "We were very unselfish, shot the ball extremely well and pushed the game to the wire like we have done so many times this year."
Teresa Manigrasso led a contingent of four Saint Leo players in double figures with 19 points. Williams added 11, Chachi Guzman finished with a dozen and Keishara Green carved out a 15-point, 10-rebound double-double.
The Tritons have one more game on the schedule before preparing for the postseason inside Silver Spurs Arena in Kissimmee later in March. Eckerd will be heading to Lynn University to wrap up the regular season with a
2 p.m. tip-off in Boca Raton
on Saturday.
