Box Score BOCA RATON, Fla. - One month ago, the Eckerd women's basketball team was able to hold off an upset-minded Lynn University squad led by a former Triton player.
In the rematch, the former Triton got the better of her old squad as the Fighting Knights started hot and picked up a 72-58 win over Eckerd on Saturday in Boca Raton.
Julia Huddleston, first-year Lynn head coach, played at Eckerd from 1998-2002. Her initial homecoming on January 13 ended with a 77-72 overtime win for EC, but she notched her first victory over her alma mater on her new home floor.
Eckerd head coach
Paul Honsinger thought the emotion of that connection made a difference in the game.
"I thought Lynn played great. They had a lot of energy," he said. "With Julia having played at Eckerd, they were up for the game. I don't think we had the same level of intensity."
Lynn showcased that intensity early, closing the first quarter on a 10-2 run to take an 11-point lead at the first intermission. The Knights then scored the first five points of the second quarter, extending the lead to 16 points.
The Triton answered with a 10-0 run to get back within six, but again it was Lynn that finished a quarter on a high note rolling off the last seven points of the half for a 39-26 lead at the break.
The trend of Eckerd pulling close and Lynn pulling away continued in the second half. EC got back within six points again with 4:57 to go in the quarter, only to see the Knights go on an 11-2 run to go back ahead by 15. The Tritons again responded at the end of the third quarter and beginning of the fourth, as
Ashley Folsom scored the first five points of the final quarter to help Eckerd cut the deficit to five points at the 8:27 mark.
That, however, was as close as EC would be able to get. Lynn scored six straight points to push the lead to double-digits again, and the Tritons were unable to answer.
"We had a chance to make a run and close the game," Honsinger said, "but there were a couple of swing plays that went in their favor and they did a good job of closing out. We fought back to keep it close, but weren't able to finish it out."
Margaret Sundberg led four Eckerd players in double figures with 14 points.Â
Mariam Hannoun added 12 off the bench while Folsom had 11 and
Kacie Juday chipped in 10. EC struggled with its shooting accuracy today, making just 33.8 percent from the field and 3-of-16 from 3-point range.
The Tritons get a week off before traveling to face Nova Southeastern on Saturday, February 20, at 2:00 PM.
