SAINT LEO, Fla. – The Eckerd women's basketball team finished a season sweep of Saint Leo on Wednesday night at the Bowman Center, cruising past the Lions for a 75-53 victory.
A dominant second quarter by the Tritons was the difference as Eckerd built a large lead at halftime and maintained that lead throughout the second half. The second quarter saw Eckerd hold the Lions to just one made field goal while the Tritons used a 16-1 run to distance themselves from the hosts.
HOW IT ENDED
Final: Eckerd 75, Saint Leo 53
Records: Eckerd 13-6 (8-4 SSC); Saint Leo 8-12 (3-9 SSC)
KEY MOMENTS
- The Tritons took control early opening the game on a 10-3 run over the first two minutes. Eckerd followed with a 7-0 run to stretch its lead to nine with four minutes remaining. However, Saint Leo responded with a 9-2 run to cut the Tritons' lead to two in the final minute before a late Zoe Richards jumper gave EC a 21-17 lead at the end of the first.
- Eckerd opened the second quarter on a 7-2 run to stretch its lead back to nine points with 7:29 left. Chelsea Johnson and Yarden Danan then knocked down back-to-back 3-pointers to start a string of 11 unanswered points before the Lions made two free throws just before halftime. Eckerd held the Lions without a field goal for the final seven minutes of the quarter to take a 39-23 into the break.
- EC opened the second half with a 10-4 run over the first five minutes to pull ahead by 22. Seven of the points during the early run were from Danan. After a quiet three-minute stretch, the teams traded baskets over the final two minutes with Eckerd's lead fluctuating between 18 and 23 points as the Tritons took a 58-36 lead into the final quarter.
- After an initial layup by Richards, the Tritons went over three minutes before their next basket. Saint Leo followed with an 8-0 run to cut its deficit to 16 points before Eckerd closed the game on an 11-5 run to take a 22-point victory.
NOTES AND NUMBERS
- Four Tritons scored in double-figures. Danan led the way with 18 points while Octavia Loll added 13 and Johnson and Richards each contributed 12 points. Danan added six rebounds, three steals, and three assists to her line. Loll also grabbed six rebounds while adding six assists.
- Armi Anttila swatted three shots to move into eighth place in career blocks with 88. Her three blocks tie her career high, which she has matched eight times during her career.
- Eckerd earns the season sweep over Saint Leo, also winning 85-47 on November 28 in the McArthur Center. The Tritons have won the past 10 meetings with Saint Leo.
- With the win tonight, Eckerd moves up one spot in the SSC standings sitting in a tie for second place with Tampa.
UP NEXT
Eckerd continues its road stretch with a trip to Lynn on Saturday for a 2:00 PM start.
