LAKELAND, Fla. - Back-to-back double-double's by Bella Green lifted the Tritons' women's basketball team to a 90-78 victory over the University of Illinois Springfield to go 2-0 at the Century Retail Classic in Jenkins Field House on Saturday afternoon.
Illinois Springfield got the early jump, leading 2-0 in the opening minute. The teams traded baskets throughout the quarter as leads swapped three times in the frame. An and-one layup by Lauryn Vieira followed by a pair of made free throws from a technical foul started a seven-point run for the Tritons to lead 20-16 after the first ten minutes. The Tritons continued the run after the break for a game-best 11 point scoring streak that was stifled at the 8:15 mark in the second quarter. Eckerd gained momentum back to take a 20-point lead into halftime up 50-30.
The Tritons took their largest lead of the game at the 6:34 mark of the third quarter off a 3-pointer from Hannah Wentworth. The Prairie Stars chipped away at the Triton favor towards the end of the frame, with Eckerd holding a 68-49 advantage heading into the final ten minutes. UIS had a strong fourth quarter push, but were unable to narrow its deficit to single digits, as Eckerd held on to the 12-point victory, winning 90-78.
HOW IT ENDED
FINAL: Eckerd 90, Illinois Springfield 78
RECORDS: Eckerd 6-4 (1-2 SSC); Illinois Springfield 5-6 (3-3 GLVC)
NOTES AND NUMBERS
- Eckerd's 90 points and 30 made free throws are both season highs.
- Green's double-double was her second in as many games and her fourth of the season. She is now tied for 21st in Division II with four double-double's.
- Vieira led the Tritons with 26 points, followed by Green (25) and Wentworth (15) to round out double-digit scoring.
- Vieira added eight assists and two steals while going 12-for-13 from the charity stripe.
- Green was a perfect 10-for-10 in free throws.
- Wentworth shot 4-for-9 from 3-point range.
UP NEXT
The Tritons return home after the break to face Barry at the McArthur Center on New Year's Eve (December 31) at 2:00 PM.
