BASKETBALL GAMEDAY: Tritons Battle Barry in SSC Rematch

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Eckerd women's basketball team will attempt to hold on to first place in the Sunshine State Conference standings while the men will aim to pull closer to the lead when the Tritons visit Barry University on Saturday.
 

#23/25 Eckerd (16-3, 9-1 SSC) at Barry (5-14, 3-8 SSC)
WHEN	Saturday, January 28 | 2:00 PM
WHERE	Miami Shores, Fla.
WATCH	Live Video | Live Stats
SOCIAL MEDIA	Twitter (@ECTritons) | Instagram (@EckerdTritons)
LAST MEETING	Eckerd 71, Barry 48 (1/7/17)

ABOUT THE BUCS: Barry has stuggled this season after losing a large graduating class from last year's team and being depleted by injuries this year.  The Bucs got back on track on Wednesday with a 67-61 win over Florida Tech, snapping a nine-game losing streak.  Barry will have Lauren Seyranian back in the lineup for the return meeting with Eckerd after she missed the January 7 contest in St. Petersburg.  The transfer from UC-Davis is second on the team averaging 9.8 points per game.  Kiara Palmer leads the team with 15.0 points and 7.7 rebounds per game.

LAST TIME THEY MET: Eckerd jumped out to a 42-19 lead at halftime and breezed to a 71-48 win over the Bucs in the McArthur Center on January 7, leading by as many as 31 points.  All 10 Tritons in uniform scored in the game led by Armi Anttila's career-high 14 points.  Anna Deegan added 13 as the Tritons shot 47.5 percent from the floor and led wire-to-wire.

AMONG THE LEADERS: The Tritons have achieved their success this season with strong defense and efficient offense.  Eckerd ranks sixth in NCAA Division II in scoring defense, allowing an average of just 54.2 points per game, and ranks 13th in field goal percentage making 45.9 percent of its attempts.  EC also ranks in the top 25 nationally in steals (16th), turnover margin (18th) and turnovers created (24th).
 

Eckerd (14-5, 7-3 SSC) at #10 Barry (16-2, 9-2 SSC)
WHEN	Saturday, January 28 | 4:00 PM
WHERE	Miami Shores, Fla.
WATCH	Live Video | Live Stats
SOCIAL MEDIA	Twitter (@ECTritons) | Instagram (@EckerdTritons)
LAST MEETING	Barry 97, Eckerd 95 - (2OT) (1/7/17)

ABOUT THE BUCS: Despite losing SSC Player of the Year Yunio Barrueta and post Tray Leonard to graduation, Barry hasn't missed a beat.  The Bucs sit atop the SSC by 1.5 games over Eckerd and are ranked No. 10 in both the NABC and D2SIDA polls.  To add to Eckerd's challenge, Barry is a perfect 12-0 at home this season and has won most of those games in blowout fashion.  Five players average in double digits in scoring for the SSC's most potent offense, led by Adrian Gonzalez's 20.9 points per game.  The Bucs distribute the ball better than anyone in the country, leading D2 in assists per game (22.9).

LAST TIME THEY MET: In a battle for first place in the SSC, it came down to the wire in the McArthur Center on January 7.  Eckerd missed a game-winning shot at the end of regulation and eventually fell in double-overtime, 97-95.  Drushuan McLaurn and Trevon Young had big games for Eckerd with 29 and 21 points respectively while Keshawn Ingram added 11.  Gonzalez and Daniel Mortenson each had 23 points for Barry, which knocked down 19 3-pointers.

CHASING RECORDS: Both Kevin Walsh and Coach Tom Ryan are in pursuit of career records for Eckerd men's basketball.  Walsh has drained 67 3-pointers this season to give him 204 for his career, leaving the senior 16 away from tying Steve Berg's all-time record.  Ryan is also chasing his 400th career win, entering the day with 395 victories to his credit over 21 seasons.  He's well within striking distance of Eckerd legend Jim Harley's all-time wins record of 421.