MIAMI SHORES, Fla. - The Eckerd women's basketball team ignited the nets on Saturday afternoon shooting at a 54 percent clip en route of a regular-season sweep over Barry University as the Tritons topped the Buccaneers, 74-57.
A 14-0 run to close the second quarter turned a three-point deficit into a 38-29 halftime lead. Eckerd then rolled off 11 unanswered points in the third quarter, opening a 20-point lead. The Tritons stayed in control the rest of the way in handing Barry only its second home loss of the season.
HOW IT ENDED
Final: Eckerd 74, Barry 57
Records: Eckerd 15-5 (9-4 SSC), Barry 14-6 (7-5 SSC)
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The game started slowly for both teams as over three minutes went by before Chelsea Johnson broke the stalemate for both teams scoring off a fast break at the 6:45 mark. Barry followed with an 11-2 run leading by seven points with three minutes to go in the first quarter. Eckerd ended the quarter to close the gap to one point by the end of the period, 13-12.
- The Buccaneers held a two-possession lead in the first two and a half minutes of the second quarter before Eckerd scored six straight points capped by a Yarden Danan 3-pointer to go up by two points. Barry followed with four points to regain the lead. That Barry lead would be its last of the game as the Eckerd offense quickly ignited. The Tritons took control via a 14-0 run to end the second quarter entering the half with an 11-point lead at 39-28. Johnson scored seven of Eckerd's 14 points in the run.
- The teams traded buckets in the opening minutes of the third quarter with Eckerd holding a double-digit lead before Barry hit a 3-pointer and Eckerd's lead dropped to nine points with 6:35 left in the quarter. Eckerd then essentially put the game away on the heels of an 11-0 run as two Zoe Richards free throws put the Tritons up by 20 points. Eckerd saw its largest lead of the game in the third quarter after a Richards triple at the 1:47 mark put Eckerd up by 21 at 63-42. The Tritons ended the quarter leading, 63-44.
- Barry opened the fourth quarter with five consecutive points as the Tritons cooled a bit, not score their first basket of the quarter until the 5:45 mark on a Richards jumper. However, it didn't matter as Eckerd cruised in the final five minutes of the game and went on to win by 17 points to complete a regular-season sweep of Barry for the second straight season.
NOTES AND NUMBERS
- Four Tritons scored in double-digits: Johnson (16 points), Richards (15), Kacie Juday (11), and Armi Anttila (10). Johnson finished the afternoon 7-for-10 from the floor. Juday also grabbed 11 rebounds to post a double-double in back-to-back games and record her seventh of the season.
- Eckerd shot at 54 percent from the floor, its third-highest percentage of the season and the highest shooting percentage in conference play. The Triton defense also held the Buccaneers to 32.7 shooting from the floor.
- The win keeps Eckerd in sole possession of third place in the SSC standings with a 1.5 game lead over Barry. The Tritons could move into second place by the end of the night if Embry-Riddle, which tipped off at 5:30 PM, loses at Saint Leo.
- Eckerd has now won its past four matchups against Barry.
QUOTABLE
"We had great energy on the road today. We executed offensively very well and had a balanced attack. As a team, I thought we defended well and did a great job of rebounding in the second half." - EC head coach
Paul Honsinger
UP NEXT
Eckerd travels to SSC leader Florida Southern on Wednesday for a 5:30 PM game. The Mocs dominated today in an 86-45 win over Palm Beach Atlantic.
