TRITONS THIS WEEK: What's Coming On January 29-February 4

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The schedule of Eckerd athletics picks up some steam this week as both basketball teams continue SSC action in addition to baseball and softball starting their respective season this weekend. Basketball continues SSC action with a pair of contest during the week. Softball opens its season with five games at the Gulf Shores Invitational in Gulf Shores, Ala., while baseball opens its season with a three-game series at Shorter (Ga.) University.

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Wednesday: at Florida Southern | 5:30 PM | George W. Jenkins Field House | Live Stats | Live Video
Saturday: vs. Lynn | 2:00 PM | McArthur Center | Live Stats | Live Video

• Eckerd (15-5, 9-4 SSC) rides a four-game winning streak after victories last week over Tampa and Barry. The Tritons look to continue their streak as they travel to SSC leader Florida Southern on Wednesday and host Lynn on Saturday.
• Zoe Richards has led the team as of late tying her career-high 26 points on Wednesday in the win over Tampa. In the past four games, Richards has averages 16 points per game while shooting at a 62.5 percent clip during that stretch.
• Kacie Juday also leads the team on both ends of the court after posting back-to-back double-doubles last week and her seventh double-double of the season. Last week she averaged 14 points and 11 rebounds per game.
• During the four-game win streak, the Triton defense has held opponents to a shooting percentage under 36 percent in three of those games. 
• Florida Southern (16-3, 11-2 SSC) is led by a trio of double-digit scorers: Anja Fuchs-Robetin (19.4 ppg), Camille Giardina (17.9), and Jensen Blassage (14.2). The trio all sit in the top ten in the conference in scoring. Lynn's (9-11, 5-8 SSC) offense is led by the fifth-leading scorer in conference, Paola Vazquez Concepcion (15.4 ppg).
• In the first contest of the season, Eckerd beat Florida Southern, 77-69, behind four Tritons in double-figures. Juday led the team with 18 points and 13 rebounds. The game was a physical contest with a combined 45 personal fouls as Eckerd went 24-for-29 at the line. Eckerd narrowly lost, 68-65, at Lynn weeks ago after leading a majority of the game.

MEN'S BASKETBALL
Wednesday: at Florida Southern | 7:30 PM | George W. Jenkins Field House | Live Stats | Live Video
Saturday: vs Lynn | 4:00 PM | McArthur Center | Live Stats | Live Video

• Eckerd (16-4, 9-4 SSC) looks to bounce back after a narrow loss Saturday to Barry as they travel to Florida Southern on Wednesday and host Lynn on Saturday.
• Drushaun McLaurn has scored in double-digits in his past nine games while scoring 20 or more points in six games during that stretch. In four of his past six games, McLaurn has made 10 or more field goals as well.
• Keshawn Ingram leads the team from beyond the arc this season with a 39.3 shooting percentage. Last week Ingram shot 50 percent from behind the arc going 8-for-16.
• Eckerd ranks seventh in the country in rebound margin with a plus-10.2 per game advantage on the boards. During the past two weeks, the Tritons have a plus 13-rebound margin.
• The Tritons also rank 13th in the country in free throw shooting at 77.2 percent. Blake Morrow leads the team shooting 87.1 percent. During the past four games, Eckerd is shooting at 86 percent from the line going 74-for-86.
• Florida Southern (12-9, 6-7 SSC) is led by three players averaging double-digits: Jonathan Lawton (20.2 ppg), Brett Hanson (17.8), and Jack Rauch (10.4). Lynn's (10-9, 7-6 SSC) offense is led by Jamal Palmer (14.1 ppg).
• Earlier this season, Eckerd beat Florida Southern, 71-67, behind a career-high 23 points form Morrow and a double-double by Trevon Young. Eckerd built a large 18-point lead in the second half and fended off a late comeback by the Moccasins. Eckerd fell, 78-74, at Lynn after suffering a cold shooting performance.

SOFTBALL
Friday: vs. West Georgia | 10:00 AM | Gulf Shores, Ala. | Live Stats
            vs. West Alabama | 12:15 PM | Gulf Shores, Ala. | Live Stats
Saturday: vs. Auburn-Montgomery | 11:15 AM | Gulf Shores, Ala. | Live Stats
                 vs. No. 3 West Florida | 3:45 PM | Gulf Shores, Ala. | Live Stats
Sunday: vs. North Alabama | 9:00 AM | Gulf Shores, Ala. | Live Stats

• Eckerd opens up the season at the Gulf Shores Invitational in Gulf Shores, Ala., and will play five games over three days. The Tritons will face tough completion Saturday afternoon as they face No. 3 West Florida who played in the College World Series last year.
• Eckerd returns the bulk of its starting lineup including batting leaders Rachael Luckett (.292 average) and Crystal Garcia (.284) in addition to the team ERA (2.59) and strikeout (95) leader Nikole Van Gennep.

BASEBALL
Saturday: at Shorter (DH) | 12:00 PM | Robert H. Ledbetter Sports Complex | Live Stats 
Sunday: at Shorter | 12:00 PM | Robert H. Ledbetter Sports Complex | Live Stats

• Eckerd opens up the season with a three-game road series at Shorter (Ga.) University. Eckerd will play a double-header on Saturday and a single game Sunday afternoon.
• The Tritons return a large junior class with plenty of experience including NCBWA preseason All-South region selection Nick Conti who had a .366/.469/.497 slash line last season as well as Mitch Calandra (.343/.397/.436) and leading pitcher Dillon McCollough (.372 ERA, 87 K's). The Tritons also return last year's SSC Freshman of the Year Sam Cochrane, who hit .341.