Box Score SAINT LEO, Fla. – The Florida Tech women's basketball team was back on the court on Friday afternoon at the SSC/SIAC Challenge against Clark Atlanta. While the Crimson and Gray stayed competitive through all 40 minutes, a three and a half minute stretch midway through the fourth quarter proved to be the difference for CAU, who emerged victorious, 57-48.  
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final: Florida Tech 48, Clark Atlanta 57
Records: Florida Tech (0-4, 0-0 SSC), Clark Atlanta (1-0, 0-0 SIAC)
Location:  Marion Bowman Activities Center| Saint Leo, Fla.
 
FIRST QUARTER:
• CAU tallied six of the game's first seven points thanks to triples from Trinity Jones and Hannah White.
• Tech would take their first lead through three-pointers from Olivia Stephens and Lina Stranger-Johannessen.
• After a Dalma Ehmann free throw extended the Crimson and Gray to two, Clark Atlanta would nab the two baskets of the frame through a Corriana Evans jumper and a Mariah Baltierra layup to take a 10-8 lead.
     
SECOND QUARTER:
• Florida Tech started the quarter on a 5-0 spurt thanks to an Ehmann layup and a Stephens three.
• A Rianna Smith layup from a turnover and a White jumper enabled CAU to re-take the lead but that would be their final points of the quarter.
• Tech would break a three-minute scoring drought with a Divine Guthrie layup and would add to their lead a minute later through a Kyandra Poitier jumper.
• The Crimson and Gray would score twice more in the final 90 seconds of the half through Poitier and Guthrie to take a seven-point lead into the break.
 
THIRD QUARTER:
• The two teams traded baskets inside the first minute of the quarter before Clark Atlanta went on a 7-0 run to get back on level terms.
• That would be more possible through free throws from Evans and Jones, who added a jumper as well and would be capped off by a Baltierra three.
• Neither team would lead by more than three points for the rest of the quarter with Faith Bland's layup in the final minute giving CAU a 35-34 advantage going into the final 10 minutes.
 
FOURTH QUARTER:
• A three-point play for White extended the CAU lead to 38-34 just 43 seconds into the final quarter
• Tech would get even in just under 40 seconds thanks to jumpers from Ehmann and Stephens.   
•  After the Crimson and Gray re-took the lead on a short jumper from Ehmann, Clark Atlanta would make their move as they would go on an 11-0 run over the next 3:31 to take the lead for good.
• Powering the decisive stretch for CAU were threes from Bland and Janiah Ellis as well as a jumper and free throw from Evans.
• The margin ultimately proved too much to overcome for Florida Tech as they would get within no closer than six over the final 4:27 of the game.
 
NOTABLE PANTHERS:
•  Olivia Stephens led Florida tech in scoring with 10 points, her second game in double figures this season.
• Kyandra Poitier grabbed a team-high six rebounds, which is the second time she's led the Panthers in rebounding over the first four games.
• Lina Stranger-Johannessen added eight points, five rebounds, two assists and a block in 34 minutes of action before fouling out.
 
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE:
 
• Clark Atlanta leads the all-time series 3-0. This was the first meeting between the schools since November 18, 2012. 
• Tech finished the game shooting 37.5% (18-48) from the field, 30% (3-10) from beyond the arc, and 81.8% (9-11) on free throws.
• CAU shot 32.8% (19-58) in the contest, 36.8% (7-19) from the three-point range, and 44.4% (10-27) at the line.
• Florida Tech held the advantage in rebounds (38-31), points in the paint (16-8), fast break points (7-4),
• Clark Atlanta were tops in points off turnovers (6-2), second chance points (9-6) and bench points (27-19).
 
 
UP NEXT: Florida Tech returns to action tomorrow for Day Two of the SSC/SIAC Challenge, where they'll face Central State. Tip-off is set for 12 P.M.
 
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