ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The Eckerd women's basketball team stayed even with Le Moyne (N.Y.) throughout the majority of a close game, but a late Dolphin run to end the third quarter proved to be the difference as the Tritons were unable to make up the deficit ultimately falling, 68-56, on Saturday afternoon in the McArthur Center.
HOW IT ENDED
Final: Le Moyne 68 Eckerd 56
Records: Eckerd 3-1, Le Moyne 4-1
KEY MOMENTS
- The game was tight from the opening tip as the two teams managed to stay within two possessions of each other throughout the first quarter. Eckerd took a three-point lead after an Armi Anttila layup at 5:49 before the Dolphins went on a 10-2 run to gain a five-point lead two minutes later. The Tritons responded to even the score at 15-15 to end the period.
- The second quarter remained the same as the first with neither team able to create more than a three-point lead before Le Moyne eventually took a one-point lead, 28-27, into halftime.
- The Tritons opened the second half on a 9-2 run fueled by a trio of 3-pointers from Chelsea Johnson, Octavia Loll, and Yarden Danan. However, Le Moyne responded quickly tying the score at 38-38 just after the 5:00 mark. The Dolphins then closed on a 14-3 run to take a 10-point lead into the final quarter.
- Eckerd opened the fourth quarter with a 7-2 run pulling within five points after a Danan 3-pointer. Le Moyne stretched its lead back to 10 points one minute later but Eckerd once again pulled within striking distance after another Danan 3-pointer, trailing by six points with 3:51 left. Eckerd stayed within an arms' length over the next minute before the Dolphins sealed the win with a Madison Purcell 3-pointer with 2:33 left as the Tritons were unable to close the gap in the final minutes.
NOTES AND NUMBERS
- Loll led three Tritons in double figures with 15 points while Abby Whiteye and Danan added 11 points each.
- Danan led Eckerd on the boards with seven rebounds while Anttila had five.
- The game featured 11 lead changes and nine ties.
- Eckerd shot 36.4 percent from the floor and 25.0 percent from behind the arc while Le Moyne shot 53.2 percent from the floor - the highest Eckerd has allowed this season.
- This was Eckerd's first loss in the Thanksgiving Classic since November 30, 2013.
UP NEXT
Eckerd opens up conference play on Wednesday hosting Saint Leo at 5:30 PM
