TAMPA, Fla. - A quiet first quarter saw the Eckerd women's basketball team fall to No. 19 Tampa 53-40 on the road Wednesday night.
The Tritons started the game in a 4-0 hole, with Jaylen Ostenson scoring Eckerd's first bucket. EC got off to a slow start offensively, managing just three points in the first quarter as Tampa built an early lead, 14-3. Eckerd responded well in the second quarter, building momentum with key baskets from Paloma Simón and Chance Bucher. The Tritons were strong on the boards in the frame, out-rebounding the Spartans 10-3. Eckerd outscored Tampa 17-14 in the period, cutting into the deficit and heading into halftime trailing 31-20.
In the second half, Eckerd continued to battle, working to contain Tampa's offense while searching for consistent scoring. A late push in the fourth quarter, fueled by 3-pointers from Bucher and Simón brought them within striking distance. Ostenson shot 3-for-5 from the floor in the frame. The Spartans only tallied four points in the fourth quarter, but the lead they built was enough to hold on as the Tritons fell 53-40.
HOW IT ENDED
FINAL: No. 19 Tampa 53, Eckerd 40
RECORDS: Eckerd 16-6 (11-5 SSC); Tampa 22-4 (14-2 SSC)
NOTES AND NUMBERS
- Ostenson and Bucher led Eckerd with 12 points each, combining for more than half of the team's total scoring.
- Bucher came close to a double-double, grabbing a team-high nine rebounds.
- Eckerd held Tampa to just four points in the final quarter, their lowest-scoring period of the game.
- Eckerd grabbed eight offensive rebounds, leading to 10 second-chance points.
- Eckerd's defense forced 16 Tampa turnovers, converting them into seven points.
UP NEXT
The Eckerd women's basketball team returns home to the McArthur Center Saturday to host Palm Beach Atlantic at 2:00 PM.
