No. 8 Tritons Drop SSC Semifinals to Lynn

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Eckerd and Lynn traded scoring runs throughout the contest, but the Fighting Knights pulled away in the final three minutes to beat the No. 8 Eckerd women's
 basketball team, 60-52, in the Sunshine State Conference semifinals Thursday night at the McArthur Center.  

Eckerd started the game on a 7-0 run. Lynn quickly pulled within one, but the Tritons responded with another seven-point scoring run before ending the frame with a 16-11 lead. The Fighting Knights started the second stanza on a 10-0 run to take a 21-16 favor at the 7:16 mark. The Tritons rallied with nine straight points to take a 25-21 advantage. LU pushed back in front by four late, but Lauryn Vieira pulled EC within one, 31-30, at the half on a last-second triple.  

The teams swapped baskets to start the third stanza before five straight Triton points gave Eckerd a 39-35 edge. Lynn followed with six consecutive points to end the frame with a 43-41 favor. The Knights took a 49-41 lead at the 6:51 mark, but Eckerd responded with eight straight points to even the score at 49-49 with 3:17 left. Lynn answered with seven consecutive points to take a 56-49 lead with 28 seconds left. A Nicole Scales triple pulled EC within four a few seconds later, but Lynn made a layup and two free throws down the stretch to seal the win. 

HOW IT ENDED
FINAL: Lynn 60, No. 8 Eckerd 52
RECORDS: Eckerd 24-5; Lynn 23-7 

NOTES AND NUMBERS

• Sofia Persson led Eckerd with 18 points, while Lauryn Vieira added 13. 
• Vieira grabbed three steals, while Persson had two. 
• Cirkeline Rimdal posted a career-high three blocks, while Persson added two. 
• Ragnheidur Einarsdottir led Eckerd on the boards with nine rebounds, while Persson and Vieira added six each. 
• There were seven lead changes in the game and six ties. 
• Eckerd shot 33.3 percent from the floor. 
• With her third assist, Lauryn Vieira set the singel season assist record at 186. 

UP NEXT
Eckerd awaits its postseason fate on Sunday with the NCAA selection show airing at 10:30 PM. The Tritons sit at No. 2 in the region.