LAKELAND, Fla. – Florida Tech women's basketball (7-14, 3-10 SSC) took a trip to Lakeland for a midweek showdown with the No. 12 Florida Southern Mocs (20-1, 13-0 SSC). The Panthers fought hard but could not overcome a slow start as they fell 72-56.
 
Tech struggled in the first quarter as the Mocs controlled the pace and it showed on the scoreboard as the Panthers trailed 26-12.
 
The Crimson and Gray started the second quarter with a 6-0 run by Tereza Sedlakova as she converted three consecutive layups. This brought the score to 26-18 but that did not last long as a five point run back the lead up to 13. The teams traded buckets the rest of the quarter and lead to a score of 41-27 at the half.
 
The third began with a 7-2 Panthers' run but that was immediately answered by a 6-0 Mocs' run. The rest of the quarter resembled the second as both went back-and-forth. The quarter ended with the Panthers behind, 57-39.
 
The final quarter started with an 8-2 Tech run. The team slowed a bit after the hot start but in the end the Panthers loss 72-56 to the top team in the Sunshine State Conference.
 
Florida Tech will head to Tampa Saturday, Feb. 9, for the second of the two game road trip. The game against the Spartans is set to begin at 2 p.m. ET in the Bob Martinez Athletics Center.
 
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