Box Score WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Close games have become a bit of a theme in the early season for the Eckerd College women's basketball team.
The Tritons emerged victorious from another nail-biter on Saturday afternoon, scoring the final 10 points of the game on the way to a 64-56 overtime win at Palm Beach Atlantic.
Eckerd (3-1) struggled from the floor, shooting just 32.3 percent, but made good on 19-of-23 free throw attempts which proved to be crucial in the outcome.
"All night long it was a one or two possession game," said EC head coach
Paul Honsinger, "so it was key to knock down our free throws."
The game was indeed tight from the start, with neither team holding a lead greater than six points throughout regulation. PBA led by five with 6:16 to play but Eckerd came back to tie the game at 54-54 with 53 seconds left on a pair of free throws by
Victoria Vine.
Both teams had chances to win in the final minute, but neither could convert. The Sailfish got the last chance, missing on a 3-pointer as time expired.
Palm Beach Atlantic scored the first basket of overtime, but Eckerd locked down afterward and held PBA scoreless over the last 4:40 of the game. A 3-pointer by Vine put the Tritons ahead for good with 1:47 to play, and EC made 5-of-6 free throws to seal the game.
"We were aggressive down the stretch," Honsinger said. "Our execution wasn't very good, but we were aggressive and attacked the basket."
Eckerd got big performances off the bench from newcomers
Ashley Folsom (13 points, seven rebounds) and
Mariam Hannoun (14 points, three steals). Folsom scored 11 in the first half as EC took a 28-26 lead into the locker room.
"We went inside early and Ashley carried the load through the first half," said Honsinger. "Mariam made some big defensive plays late and attacked the basket. It was great to have them break out today because we needed it on the road."
The Tritons also got 13 points from
Elisabeth Giegerich and 10 from
Margaret Sundberg.
Eckerd resumes play in the Sunshine State Conference on Tuesday, visiting Rollins College for a 5:30 PM tip-off.
