LAKELAND, Fla. – Despite leading for most of the second half in a tightly contested game, the No. 12/15 Eckerd women's basketball team dropped just its third game of the season, 61-54, in overtime at Florida Southern Saturday night.
Both teams struggled offensively in a low-scoring first half. The teams swapped leads with neither able to generate more than a two-possession lead, with the Moccasins carrying a slim 20-19 advantage at halftime.
The Tritons led for all but a minute of the third quarter, as a Sofia Persson layup to begin the frame gave Eckerd its third lead of the game, 21-20. Three consecutive free throws and a layup by FSC's Whitney Jacob to close the quarter trimmed Eckerd's lead, 39-35, heading into the fourth.
EC maintained a one-possession lead for most of the final stanza before a free throw by FSC's Sara Wohlgemuth tied the game, 45-45, with three minutes remaining. The Tritons went on a 5-0 run over the next minute for a 50-45 favor. The Mocassins' Domenica Zamora hit a 3-pointer to pull Florida Southern within two, 50-48, with 49 seconds left. FSC's Whitney Jacob found Julia Jenike under the basket for a game-tying layup, 50-50, with 5.2 seconds left.
Coming out of the timeout, Nicole Scales inbounded the ball to Lauryn Vieira, who cut to the basket and found an open Persson at the perimeter, who narrowly missed the game-winner, sending the game to overtime.
Eckerd's offense was unable to get going in overtime as FSC outscored EC 11-4 in the frame, winning the game, 61-54.
HOW IT ENDED
FINAL: Florida Southern 61, No. 12/15 Eckerd 54 (OT)
RECORDS: Eckerd 17-3 (13-5 SSC); Florida Southern 17-8 (15-4 SSC)
NOTES AND NUMBERS
- Vieira earned her third double-double of the season with 14 rebounds and 10 assists.
- Vieira's 14 rebounds set a career-high. Her 10 assists tie her career-high mark, set against Saint Leo on December 1, 2021.
- Vieira has posted back-to-back games with double-digit rebounds, with 10 at Embry-Riddle on Wednesday.
- Maya Price's 19 points give her 15 games this season with double-digit scoring figures.
- EC narrowly outscored FSC in the paint, 36-34.
- Three Tritons played 40 or more minutes: Vieira (45), Scales (41), and Hannah Wentworth (40). Persson just missed the mark with 39.
- EC took just two free throws in the game, going 1-for-2.
- The Tritons shot 37.5 percent from the floor and 14.7 percent from 3-point range.
UP NEXT
Eckerd hosts Barry for its last home contest of the regular season on Wednesday at 5:30 PM.
