Women's basketball grinds out win over Florida Southern

ST. PETERSBURG -- The Eckerd Tritons women's basketball team took over sole possession of third place in the SSC on Saturday, winning a defensive battle over the visiting Florida Southern Moccasins by a score of 58-54.

Ieva Korzane accounted for the first two baskets of the game to give the Tritons the early advantage, a lead they held for the entirety of the first quarter. Eckerd grew the margin out to as many as 10 after seeing three straight made shots in the paint, all while holding the Mocs without a point for over a three-minute span. Florida Southern got within four following a 6-0 run to make it a 12-8 score, but Emma Egan's layup halted the momentum. Korzane grabbed the final three points of the frame for Eckerd and the team led 17-10 entering the second. The Tritons held the Mocs to just 21 percent shooting through the first 10 minutes. 

In the second, Eckerd held Florida Southern to an identical 21 percent shooting effort from the floor, but the visitors inched closer after hitting 9-10 from the free throw line. Egan's jumper near the halfway point of the quarter extended the differential out to the largest of the game at a score of 23-11, but the Mocs chipped away and used a 5-0 run to close the half and cut the deficit down to four at 30-26. Florida Southern again held a slight advantage through the third quarter, out-scoring Eckerd 14-12 to cut the four-point halftime deficit in half entering the fourth. Both teams shot 33 percent in the period.

A physical fourth quarter ensued, with the two teams trading baskets until a triple from the Mocs gave them their first lead of the game at 48-46 with six minutes remaining. Korzane's layup on the following possession evened the score, and a pair of baskets both ways brought the game to a 50-50 deadlock with 3:35 to play. Two straight successful possessions on offense for the Tritons came next, with Korzane responsible for both made shots, but the Mocs got one back moments later to make a 54-52 contest. Egan answered with a three-point play on the other end to extend the lead to two possessions. Florida Southern saw a chance to tie the game in the final seconds, but a last-second three was off the mark.

Korzane led all scorers with 22 points on 9-11 shooting, also grabbing seven rebounds. Egan posted a double-double with 17 points and 14 boards, while Greta Carollo added nine off the bench.

Eckerd improves to 12-4 overall and 7-2 in the SSC. The team will remain home on Wednesday to host Palm Beach Atlantic.