VALDOSTA, Ga. - Following a back-and-forth contest with 19 lead changes and 10 ties, the Eckerd women's basketball team fell to No. 15 Tampa, 69-68, in overtime in the NCAA semifinals on Saturday night. A late free throw sealed the win for Tampa in overtime, while Eckerd was unable to convert on a last-second game-winning attempt.
Eckerd jumped out to a quick 8-3 lead. EC maintained a two-possession lead until the Spartans closed the frame on a 5-0 run as the Tritons took a 14-13 edge to end the period. Four straight points to open the second frame gave UT a one-possession lead. The teams swapped possessions until the Tritons rolled off five consecutive points to take a seven-point lead before taking a 32-27 favor at the break.
EC maintained a three and six-point lead in the opening six minutes of the third frame before UT went on a 7-0 run to take a two-point favor before holding a 46-45 edge at the end of the third. Both teams went quiet until the 6:47 mark of the fourth as back-to-back jumpers gave Eckerd a 49-46 edge. UT and EC swapped leads seven times over the next six minutes. Following two free throws, UT held a one-point lead with 1:36 left. Lauryn Vieira was fouled with 14 seconds left and made her second shot to tie the game at 56-56. The Tritons got a defensive stop to force overtime.
The leads changed seven times in overtime. Eckerd pushed in front by three with 2:09 left, but the Spartans regained the lead a minute later. Ieva Korzane hit a triple to give EC a two-point lead, but Tampa evened the score seconds later. Eckerd missed on its next possession. Tampa drew a foul with three seconds left and hit one free throw to take the lead. Eckerd had a look under the basket for the game-winner with two seconds left but was unable to convert.
HOW IT ENDED
FINAL: No. 15 Tampa 69, Eckerd 68 (OT)
RECORDS: Eckerd 20-12; No. 15 Tampa 30-6
NOTES AND NUMBERS
- The Tritons held a 32-30 advantage on the boards.
- Lauryn Vieira posted her third straight double-double with 27 points and 11 rebounds. She had nine rebounds in the first half. Vieira added six assists while shooting 55 percent from the floor.
- Chance Bucher rounded out the double-figure scorers with 15 points.
- Eckerd shot 44.1 percent from the field and 35 percent from the perimeter.
- The contest was Eckerd's second overtime game of the year.
- The matchup was the fourth of the year between Eckerd and Tampa.
- Eckerd made three straight appearances in the NCAA South Region semifinals.
- The game marked the ends of the careers of Eckerd's two seniors, Hannah Wentworth and Lauryn Vieira.
- Vieira ends her career with 1,116 points, 575 rebounds, 569 assists, 247 steals, and five program records.
- Wentworth ends her career with 840 points at Eckerd and 62 steals.
