ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The Eckerd women's basketball team came from behind thanks to a strong second-half effort, winning its sixth straight game and sweeping the regular-season series from Nova Southeastern at the McArthur Center on Wednesday night.
Facing a seven-point deficit at halftime, Eckerd shot over 60 percent in the second half to pull ahead of the Sharks in the fourth quarter while coming up with a key defensive stop in the final minute for the comeback win.
HOW IT ENDED
Final: Eckerd 74, Nova Southeastern 68
Records: Eckerd 17-6 (11-4 SSC); Nova Southeastern 14-9 (10-6 SSC)
KEY MOMENTS
- The Tritons struggled out of the gate with three turnovers in their first three possessions before Abby Whiteye put Eckerd on the board with a layup over two minutes into the game. Nova Southeastern pulled ahead by eight points minutes later but Eckerd scored five unanswered points to trail by three with three minutes left. The Tritons ended the quarter trailing, 15-11.
- A Mikayla Kuehne layup pulled Eckerd within two to start the second quarter but NSU followed with a 7-0 run to pull ahead by nine. The teams traded baskets over the remainder of the half with the Sharks pulling ahead by as many as 11 points before Eckerd used a 7-2 run in the final two minutes to get back within five. The Sharks made a late layup to take a 37-30 lead into halftime.
- The Tritons got within five points again early in the third quarter but Nova Southeastern pulled back ahead by eight over the next two minutes. Eckerd then went on an 8-0 run over the next five minutes to tie the score at 45-45. Eckerd finally took the lead with 1:46 left in the quarter following a traditional 3-point play by Zoe Richards. The teams tied the score twice more in the period before the Sharks took a one-point lead to end the third.
- A Haeli Howard steal and score to start the fourth quarter gave the Tritons the lead back but NSU followed with five consecutive points to take a four-point lead. A Yarden Danan 3-pointer evened the score at 60-60 and ignited a 7-0 Triton run to put EC up by four with 4:41 left. The Tritons went ahead by five following a three-point play by Chelsea Johnson with 1:32 left but NSU stayed within one possession following two made free throws. Eckerd sealed the win after coming up with a defensive stop on the Sharks' next possession while Eckerd went 5-for-6 from the charity stripe in the final 12 seconds.
NOTES AND NUMBERS
- Johnson led Eckerd with a career-high 25 points while Richards and Danan also scored in double figures with 16 and 13 points respectively.
- Richards led Eckerd on the boards with seven rebounds while Johnson and Danan grabbed five each.
- Eckerd has now won six straight games.
- Eckerd shot 50.0 percent from the floor in the game while shooting 60.9 percent in the second half. EC has now shot 50 percent or better in four games this season.
- The Tritons have won five of their last six games against Nova Southeastern.
UP NEXT
Eckerd travels to Palm Beach Atlantic on Saturday for a 2:00 PM tipoff. The Sailfish upset conference leader Florida Southern on the road tonight.
