ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The Eckerd women's basketball team used several timely defensive stops in the fourth quarter - including two blocked shots - to open the annual EC Thanksgiving Classic with a 57-49 win over Daemen (N.Y.) on Friday afternoon in the McArthur Center.
HOW IT ENDED
Final: Eckerd 57, Daemen 49
Records: Eckerd 3-0, Daemen 2-2
KEY MOMENTS
- Daemen opened the game shooting effectively from behind the arc, sinking four triples to build a six-point lead halfway through the quarter. Eckerd chipped away at the Wildcats' lead pulling within two after Yarden Danan knocked down a 3-pointer to end the quarter down, 15-13.
- Eckerd played with a hot hand in the second period, opening the quarter on an 8-0 run while outscoring the Wildcats 16-3 in the quarter to hold a 29-18 lead at the half.
- Eckerd opened the second half on an 8-3 run, stretching its lead to 15 points after a Chelsea Johnson layup with under four minutes left. However, fortunes quickly changed for the Tritons as Daemen went on a 14-0 run to end the quarter pulling within one, 37-36.
- The final quarter was tight as the teams went back and forth with two ties and three lead changes. The Wildcats tied the score, 43-43, after a jumper at the 5:56 mark before Johnson regained the lead with a layup seconds later. Over the next three minutes, the Triton defense came up with several key stops as Abby Whiteye grabbed a steal while Johnson came up with a big block before Whiteye made a 3-pointer giving Eckerd a five-point lead with 2:48 left. The defense held strong in the final minutes while Eckerd made key free throws to seal the win.
NOTED AND NUMBERS
- Two Tritons scored in double figures. Johnson led the way with 18 points while Whiteye added 14.
- Whiteye went 4-of-8 from 3-point range, her most makes in a game in her Eckerd career. The rest of the team combined to make 3-of-22 from behind the arc.
- Whiteye also led EC on the boards with seven rebounds while Armi Anttila grabbed six.
- Eckerd overcame a poor shooting performance of 35 percent by holding Daemen to a 27.4 field goal percentage. It marked the second straight game in which the Tritons held their opponents under 30 percent shooting.
UP NEXT
Eckerd faces a quick turnaround as the team continues action in the Eckerd Thanksgiving Classic against Le Moyne at 3:00 PM on Saturday.
