ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.- The Eckerd women's basketball team overcame a 15-point second quarter deficit, fighting back to top the University of Tampa in a thrilling overtime win at the McArthur Center on Wednesday night.
After trailing for the entirety of regulation,
Zoe Richards nailed a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to send the game into overtime, where Eckerd outlasted the Spartans for an important conference win.
HOW IT ENDED
Final: Eckerd 66, Tampa 63 (OT)
Records: Eckerd 14-5 (8-4 SSC); Tampa 12-7 (5-7 SSC)
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Eckerd was hampered by an uncharacteristically slow start as Tampa began the game on a 9-0 run. Eckerd didn't score its first basket until the 5:17 mark in the first quarter while shooting troubles continued as the Spartans stretched out to a 10-point lead with 2:52 left. The Tritons managed to cut the deficit to seven (16-9) by the end of the quarter.
- Tampa began the second quarter on an 8-0 run as Eckerd missed its first seven shots of the quarter as the Spartans extended their lead to 15 following two Staja Tyghter free throws with 5:47 left in the half. The Tritons finally converted from the floor with 5:19 left in the quarter and then began to find a rhythm offensively. EC made six of its last eight shots, helping the team pull within eight at halftime, 37-29.
- Tampa held a steady lead in the third quarter going up by as many as 12 points with 4:30 left. Eckerd, however, slowly chipped away at the Spartans' lead. The Tritons ended the quarter on a 7-0 run with a Kacie Juday 3-pointer and a Zoe Richards layup to end the period only trailing by five, 46-41.
- UT put itself on the verge of victory after opening the fourth quarter on an 8-2 run, pushing its lead back to 11 points with inside four minutes to play. Eckerd went to work from there, scoring nine unanswered points to trail by only two points with 1:04 left in regulation. Tampa hit a late free throw holding to a three-point lead with nine seconds left. Eckerd, looking to force overtime, inbounded the ball at halfcourt with five seconds left and found an open Richards at the top of the arc. Richards drained the buzzer-beating 3-pointer forcing the game into overtime.
- The Spartans took the opening tip and the first four points of overtime before Yarden Danan knocked down a clutch 3-pointer with two minutes left, giving Eckerd its first lead of the night. Richards stretched the lead to four points seconds later with a layup. After UT's Faith Sanders scored at the basket, Kacie Juday drove down the right side of the lane and made a difficult shot in traffic to give EC a four-point lead with 24 seconds left. Tyghter's jumper in the lane again pulled the Spartans within two before they fouled Chelsea Johnson on the ensuing possession. Johnson made 1-of-2 free throws, giving UT a chance to tie on the final possession. However, Eckerd's defense clamped down and after cutting off the dribble of Emily Eshoo, Johnson drew a charge with two seconds left to seal the win.
NOTES AND NUMBERS
- Richards led all scorers while tying her career high with 26 points. Richards also grabbed eight rebounds finishing two short of a double-double. Juday (17) and Danan (11) also led Eckerd scoring in double figures. Juday also grabbed 11 rebounds for her sixth double-double of the season.
- Richards' buzzer-beating 3-pointer was her third buzzer-beater this season. The previous two came in a victory over Rollins on December 30th, an overtime win as well. Eckerd is 2-0 this season in overtime games.
- After allowing 37 points in the first half, the Triton defense held Tampa to single digits in each period in the second half and overtime.
- Eckerd now sits in sole possession of third place it the SSC standings.
- Eckerd has won seven of its last nine contests against Tampa.
QUOTABLE
"Our team showed real character tonight. We got down 15 points early, fought through some offensive struggles and managed to stay within striking distance with our press and half-court defense. We did a better job at the free throw line in the second half and hit big shots late when we needed them. We really showed some resiliency tonight and I'm proud of the team." - EC head coach
Paul Honsinger
UP NEXT
Eckerd continues SSC play traveling to Barry on Saturday for a 2:00 PM tip-off.
