ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Four Tritons tallied double-digit figures as the No. 9 Eckerd women's basketball team notched an 81-62 victory over the Saint Leo Lions Saturday afternoon at the McArthur Center.
Nicole Scales and Maya Price alternated scoring through the early part of the first quarter, as the Tritons went up by 12 with 5:20 to go. A 3-point jumper by Taydra Simpson almost brought the Triton lead to single digits before ending the quarter up 21-7. Saint Leo fired back in the beginning of the second quarter, with Simpson, Alayna Harris, and Amanda Ulrich bringing the visitors within five. Scales tallied back as the Tritons went on a 10-point scoring run. After an and-one free throw by Sofia Persson, Alex Button converted off a Triton turnover to leave Eckerd with a 37-30 lead going into intermission.
The Tritons had a great defensive effort in the third quarter, as Price tallied two of her four blocks on the day, while the team collected 10 boards. The Lions came close to a tie throughout the period but never close enough, as the Tritons never conceded the lead. The Tritons closed the third quarter, 58-49, on a jumper in the paint from Price. In the final frame, Eckerd maintained its double-digit lead, shooting 8-for-9 on free throws as Scales netted the last two points for Eckerd. A three-point jumper from Jumoke Adaramoye brought the Lions' deficit under 20 as Eckerd defeated Saint Leo 81-62.
HOW IT ENDED
FINAL: No. 9 Eckerd 81, Saint Leo 62
RECORDS: Eckerd 8-1 (4-0 SSC); Saint Leo 7-2 (1-2 SSC)
NOTES AND NUMBERS
- Scales led the Tritons with 19 points, while three others tallied double-digits: Price (18), Persson (16), and Vieira (16).
- Price recorded a double-double with 18 points and a career-high 17 rebounds. Her 17 rebounds are the most in a single game since Gabby Gattuso pulled down 17 vs. Palm Beach Atlantic on December 6, 2005.
- Persson nearly recorded a double-double, as she tallied 16 points, nine rebounds, and a career-high five steals on the day.
- Price's four blocks move her to second in program history with 114. She is just three away from tying the record.
- Lauryn Vieira played the full 40 minutes.
- EC outscored SLU in the paint 34-30.
QUOTABLE
"The team defended and rebounded very well today, which was our main focus going into the game," stated head coach Paul Honsinger '98. "Maya [Price], in particular, was exceptional on the glass. Offensively, we had another balanced attack and executed well. It was a good conference win."
UP NEXT
The Tritons begin the holiday break on the road as they head to Florida Southern to play in the Terrace Hotel Classic. They will face off against Drury (Mo.) and Truman State (Mo.) next Friday and Saturday at 12:00 PM both days.
