MELBOURNE, Fla. - The Eckerd women's basketball team started hot, went cold and heated up again when it mattered the most, picking up a 74-59 road win over Florida Tech on Saturday afternoon.
HOW IT ENDED
Final: Eckerd 74, Florida Tech 59
Records: Eckerd 7-1 (3-1 SSC); Florida Tech 2-4 (1-2 SSC)
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Eckerd was clicking on all cylinders from the tip-off, opening the game on an 18-4 run highlighted by four 3-pointers from four different players. The Panthers pulled within 10 momentarily before the Tritons extended their lead to 14 points once more by the end of the quarter.
- The Tritons' shooting touch began to cool in the second quarter, making just 4-of-12 from the floor - including one of their last six - while turning the ball over five times. The struggles allowed Florida Tech to cut into the deficit, which reached as much as 16 early in the period. The Panthers pulled within eight points late in the period and, after a layup by Dallas Dickerson, made a free throw just before halftime to go into the break with Eckerd leading, 34-25.
- The Panthers continued to claw at the Eckerd lead to begin the second half, utilizing a 10-2 run in the first five minutes of the third quarter. FIT pulled within one point of the Tritons on a Cheyenne Scott free throw at the 4:37 mark. After the teams traded points, Armi Anttila scored five consecutive points followed by an Abby Whiteye 3-pointer as part of a key 11-3 Eckerd run. The run closed out the third quarter putting Eckerd up by eight.
- Eckerd scored on its first four possessions of the fourth quarter, capped by back-to-back 3-pointers by Whiteye and Dickerson, to give the Tritons a 16-point cushion. FIT managed to get within 10 points with just over three minutes to play, but the Tritons scored seven straight points to seal the victory.
NOTES AND NUMBERS
- Juday led all scorers with 12 points while Anttila (11), Dickerson (11) and Whiteye (10) also scored in double figures. Whiteye's 10 points were a career-high for the freshman. All of her points came in the second half.
- Juday also lead the team on the glass with a game-high seven rebounds. Anttila added six rebounds while Johnson grabbed five.
- Eckerd connected on 10 3-pointers, marking the fourth time in eight games for the team to make at least 10 shots from behind the arc.
- The Tritons shot 28 free throws, one fewer than their season high. EC has shot 20 or more free throws in six of eight games this season.
QUOTABLE
"We rebounded well tonight as a team and hit timely shots in the second half. Our bench provided a great spark for us today and that was key to our win." - EC head coach
Paul Honsinger.
UP NEXT
Eckerd travels to Memphis, Tennessee, to take on Christian Brothers (Tenn.) on Wednesday in a region contest. The Tritons defeated CBU on November 11 in St. Petersburg, 78-56.
