ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. –
Ada Yalcin scored a career-high 22 points as the Eckerd women's basketball team cruised past Florida Tech in the quarterfinals of the SSC Tournament on Wednesday night at the McArthur Center.
The Tritons jumped out early building a modest lead for the majority of the first half and added to that cushion throughout the second half. The team's defense played a major factor in the win, holding the Panthers to a 28.3 shooting percentage. It was the lowest shooting percentage Eckerd has held opponents to this season.
Yalcin, meanwhile, gave EC the offensive boost it needed to put the Tritons back into the conference tournament semifinals for the second year in a row.
HOW IT ENDED
Final: Eckerd 62, Florida Tech 45
Records: Eckerd 22-6, Florida Tech 11-16
KEY MOMENTS
- Eckerd utilized a 10-0 run in the early part of the first quarter, highlighted by back-to-back 3-pointers by Dallas Dickerson, to build an eight-point five minutes into the game. EC led by as many as 10 points before closing out the quarter with a 19-10 lead.
- The Panthers quickly pulled within five points to begin the second quarter and eventually got within four points before Eckerd went on a 12-4 run to end the quarter. Yalcin and Abby Whiteye combined for 11 points during the run, aiding Eckerd in ending the half with a 35-23 lead.
- Yalcin hit two more triples during a 12-1 run early in the second half, putting Eckerd up by 19 points before closing the third quarter with a 51-37 lead.
- Yalcin's hot shooting continued in the fourth quarter, knocking down back-to-back 3-pointers in a 40-second span to give Eckerd its largest lead of the night of 21 points (60-39). Those two shots effectively sealed the win as the Tritons cruised the rest of the way to the 17-point victory.
NOTES AND NUMBERS
- Yalcin scored a career-high 22 points with a career-high five 3-pointers. Abby Whiteye led Eckerd on the boards with 10 rebounds, six of which were offensive, and missed a double-double by one point.
- Eckerd held the Panthers to a 28.3 shooting percentage in the game and a mere eight points in the fourth quarter. The Triton defense also did not allow any Panther to score in double-digits.
- Eckerd has now won six straight against Florida Tech. Two of those wins have come during SSC tournament play.
- Tonight marked the final game in the McArthur Center for Yalcin and Kacie Juday, who dished out seven assists.
QUOTABLE
"Our defense and rebounding led the way tonight, and we got a great offensive lift from
Ada Yalcin who has been terrific for us all year. Once again we had a number of contributors. It was a strong final game at home." - EC head coach
Paul Honsinger
UP NEXT
Eckerd will face third-seeded Embry-Riddle Saturday at 7:30 PM in Lakeland at Florida Southern in the SSC Tournament Semifinals.
