FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Eckerd women's basketball team collected its third SSC win in an 80-76 overtime thriller over Nova Southeastern Thursday night in Rick Case Arena.
Mikayla Kuehne led EC with 19 points and nine rebounds followed by four other Tritons that scored in double-digits.
HOW IT ENDED
Final: Eckerd 80, Nova Southeastern 76 (OT)
Records: Eckerd 7-3 (3-1 SSC); Nova Southeastern 6-5 (2-2 SSC)
KEY MOMENTS
- A Zoe Richards layup opened the game as Eckerd scored six straight points. Nova Southeastern answered with five consecutive points of their own. The Tritons built on their lead following a layup from Abby Whiteye that started an 11-5 run as EC ended the first quarter on top, 17-12.
- The Tritons began the second quarter similar to the first with back-to-back jumpers from Octavia Loll and Mikayla Kuehne. Whiteye dropped in two free throws and followed with a layup to put EC up 25-16. The teams traded points until Kuehne posted five straight points following a pair of free throws and a 3-pointer as Eckerd entered halftime up 36-28.
- The Sharks started the second half with four straight points as part of an 11-1 run to take their first lead of the game at 39-37. The teams battled back and forth as Eckerd trailed by only three points (53-50) at the end of the third.
- Nova Southeastern again opened the quarter with four straight points to build its lead to seven. A layup from Zoe Richards sent EC on a 10-2 streak, putting them back on top, 63-61. The teams traded baskets in the final two minutes of the game until a layup from Richards and two free throws from Octavia Loll put the Tritons up by three. A pair of Hailey Conley free throws with 11 seconds left pulled the Sharks within one, but Loll nailed two free throws on the other end to keep Eckerd up by three. In the last second of the game, Conley hit a long-range triple to send the game into overtime.
- The teams traded points to open overtime with neither team able to score more than two consecutive baskets. A layup from Loll followed by a jumper from Kuehne with 1:47 left gave EC a one-point lead putting them up for good. The Tritons made three of their four final free throws to secure the win.
NOTES AND NUMBERS
- Kuehne led EC with 19 points and nine rebounds. Her 19 points tied her career-high set earlier this season. She also dished out six assists.
- Maya Price collected a career-high nine rebounds while Richards grabbed eight.
- Eneritz Larranaga, Brooke Juday, and Abby Whiteye each grabbed three steals in the win.
- All five Triton starters reached double-digits to contribute to the win.
- EC had 40 points in the paint compared to Nova Southeastern's 26.
- Eckerd has now won six of its last seven contests against NSU.
QUOTABLE
"This was a great road win for us," said head coach
Paul Honsinger. "Some things didn't go our way down the stretch, but we bounced back well in overtime to secure the win. We had great bench support tonight and hit our free throws when it counted."
UP NEXT
The Tritons return to action at home as they host Lynn on Saturday at 4:00 PM in the McArthur Center.
