Tritons Top Moccasins, 72-65

LAKELAND, Fla. - A late stretch of free throws by Ieva Korzane sealed the deal for the Eckerd women's basketball team to pick up their first conference win at Florida Southern, 75-62 on Wednesday night.

The Tritons opened the game on a nine-point tear, led by Chance Bucher, Martyna Kowalska, and Greta Carollo. Eckerd held the Mocs silent for over two minutes before the Mocs were able to get on the board. Back-to-back triples by Bucher got the Tritons out to a comfortable 15-2 favor, with the Tritons shooting 57.1 percent from distance in the quarter. The Tritons led 26-13 heading into the second frame. Eckerd built all the way up to a 15-point lead in the second quarter, but the Mocs were able to shrink the Tritons' lead back to single digits, Eckerd up 37-28 heading into the intermission. 

Carollo got things started for the Tritons in the second half, with a five-point run of her own in the opening minute. The teams traded baskets throughout the third period before a pair of Moccasin layups late in the quarter brought them back within single digits, Eckerd leading 51-43. The Mocs scored nine unanswered points to open the final frame, taking the lead for the first time in the game. The teams went on to swap leads six times until the game was tied at 58 apiece. Jaylen Ostensen and Korzane pulled the Tritons ahead by five with just over a minute remaining. In the final minutes, Ieva Korzane's performance from the free-throw line proved pivotal, as she scored 13 of her 19 points from the stripe, including crucial late-game points that stymied Florida Southern's momentum. Eckerd closed out the game 72-65 for their first conference win of the season. 

HOW IT ENDED 

FINAL: Eckerd 75, Florida Southern 65
RECORDS: Eckerd 2-1 (1-0 SSC); Florida Southern 1-2 (0-1 SSC)

NOTES AND NUMBERS 

• Bucher picked up her second double-double of the season, with 16 points, 10 rebounds. 
• Four Tritons scored in double digits: Korzane (19), Bucher (16), Carollo (12), and Kowalska (11). 
• EC shot 43.4 percent from the floor and 35.3 percent from 3-point range. 
• Carollo was 2-for-2 from beyond the arc. 
• Korzane's 13 free throws made are the most by a Triton since Sofia Persson made 17 on March 10, 2023. 

UP NEXT 

Eckerd will play Spring Hill College (Ala.) at the University of Tampa on Saturday at 11:00 AM.