ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Nicole Scales paved the way for the No. 8 Eckerd women's basketball team with 21 points on the night in a 69-53 victory over the Barry Buccaneers at the McArthur Center on Wednesday night. Sofia Persson followed closely behind, tallying a double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds.
After moving up in the national rankings, Hannah Wentworth showed why, opening up the game with a 3-pointer, capitalizing on a turnover by Ashleigh Pink. Persson and Scales added a pair of buckets before Wentworth hit another three, forcing the Bucs to call a timeout as they were shutout 11-0 in the opening three minutes of the game. Following the timeout, Wentworth hit another three, going 3-for-3 beyond the arc in the first five minutes. Ashia Pool finally answered back for the Bucs with a three of her own. Towards the end of the quarter, Barry found its footing, but they still trailed at the end of the first period, 23-16. The Tritons allowed an 11-point Barry run continuing into the second quarter, when Persson slowed Barry's momentum with a free throw. Both teams traded baskets throughout the quarter as Eckerd hovered with a single-digit lead entering halftime up, 40-35.
Pink kept the Bucs within reach, hitting back-to-back layups, bringing Barry within one. K'nari Holliday collected a rebound and put back a layup to give the Bucs their first and only lead of the game. Wentworth answered with her signature 3-pointer to regain the lead halfway through the third frame. Maya Price and Persson added to the lead, with the Tritons up seven with 3:57 remaining in the third. Barry had some last minute equalizing efforts, but Scales closed the door on the period with a 3-pointer. The last two minutes of the quarter were scoreless, with EC taking a 55-50 lead into the final frame. Eckerd hit their stride in the final quarter, with Price adding another seven points. Scales' final two free throws sealed the victory for the Tritons, 69-53.
HOW IT ENDED
FINAL: No. 8 Eckerd 69, Barry 53
RECORDS: Eckerd 13-2 (8-0 SSC); Barry 8-8 (3-5 SSC)
NOTES AND NUMBERS
- Persson recorded a double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds.
- Four Tritons notched double-digit points: Scales (21), Persson (13), Price (13), and Wentworth (12).
- Vieira collected a season-high 10 rebounds, adding five assists and four points.
- Both Persson and Vieira played the full 40 minutes.
- EC shot 80 percent on free throws.
UP NEXT
The No. 8 Tritons hit the road for a two-game road trip to face No. 7 Tampa Saturday at 2:00 PM and Florida Tech next Wednesday at 5:30 PM.
