MELBOURNE, Fla. (Women's Basketball) – DeLise Williams scored a game-high 23 points and Florida Tech outscored Embry-Riddle 43-21 in the second half to turn around a halftime deficit and knock off the Eagles 73-60 Wednesday at the Clemente Center. The victory ended the Panthers' four-game skid and improved their season record back above .500.
Â
Williams finished 8-of-17 from the floor and a perfect 7-of-7 at the line, while contributing three steals and three assists.
Tereza Sedlakova notched 15 points and nine boards, both season-highs, while making an efficient 9-of-10 from the charity stripe.
Julie McCarthy also chipped in 15 points to go along with seven rebounds, four blocks and two steals.
Â
Tara Fields led four Eagles in double-figures with 20 points on 10-of-18 shooting. Sabrina Whiting scored 17 in the game while Mercedes Jorge and Lauren Ellenberger tallied 10 points each for ERAU.
Â
After a back-and-forth opening quarter the Panthers found themselves leading the Eagles 20-17 heading into the second.
Â
ERAU took control early in the second quarter and built a six point lead (25-31) with 2:30 remaining in the half. FIT would cut the deficit in half with 54 seconds remaining but a 6-0 run by the Eagles, highlighted by Jessica Savage's put-back at the buzzer, gave them a 39-30 advantage as the teams went into the locker room.
Â
Whiting led all scorers at the break with 14 points on 5-of-6 shooting, including 3-of-3 from beyond the arc. Fields and Jorge added 10 points apiece.
Â
Three Panthers,
Aniquah Swan, McCarthy and Williams, had six points apiece.
Â
FIT turned it around in the second half, regaining the lead 46-45 with 1:24 to go in the third period when
Markeema Crawford grabbed the defensive board and streaked down the court for the fast break layup. However, Ellenberger's three-point basket with 30 seconds to go gave the Eagles a 48-46 edge heading into the final stanza.
Â
Sedlakova's three-point play tied the game for FIT, 52-52, at the 8:46 mark of the fourth. The Panthers began to pile it on from there, outscoring the Eagles 21-8 the rest of the way and finishing the game at the charity stripe to earn their seventh win of the season.
Â
Following a weekend off, Florida Tech returns to Sunshine State Conference action Wednesday, Jan. 11, on the road at Florida Southern. Tip off for the game is set for 5:30 p.m. ET from Jenkins Field House in Lakeland, Florida. Links to live coverage will be available at FloridaTechSports.com.
Â
Â
Â