Box Score ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The Florida Tech women's basketball team returned to the hardwood on Wednesday, taking to the road for a Sunshine State Conference matchup with Eckerd. While the Panthers gave one of the SSC's top teams a challenge, a pair of cold stretches in the second half ultimately prevented them from the upset as the Tritons pulled away for a 73-54 victory.
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final: Florida Tech 54, Eckerd 73
Records: Florida Tech (5-12, 0-6 SSC), Eckerd (9-5, 4-3 SSC)
Location:  McArthur Center | St. Petersburg, Fla.
 
FIRST QUARTER:

• The Panthers opened the scoring in the game's first minute thanks to a Dalma Ehmann layup.
• They added to their lead thanks to Tai Roberts splitting two free throws and would respond to a Lauryn Vieira layup with a triple from Sarah Liberatore.
• The Tritons responded by reeling off a 6-0 run over the next 58 seconds to take the lead with 6:23 remaining. However, they would not knock down another field goal for the remainder of the quarter.
• Tech drew level on the ensuing possession through a Lina Stranger-Johannessen jumper
• The Crimson and Gray would need another three minutes to take the lead, doing so on a Tai Roberts free throw.
• Emily Acampora extended the lead to four with a three.
• Eckerd would half the deficit thanks to a pair of free throws by Elina Olsson.
• Florida Tech closed the quarter strong with an up-and-under layup from Ehmann, bringing the lead to 15-10 at the end of the frame.

SECOND QUARTER:

• Acampora would bring the run to 8-0 with back-to-back baskets to start the quarter and push the lead to 20-10.
• Eckerd's field goal drought ended with a Bella Green layup just under 90 seconds into the frame.
• Two minutes would tick off the clock without a bucket for either before Ieva Korzane's three brought the Tritons to within five.
• The Panthers continued to keep the Tritons at arm's length as Eckerd could manage seven points in the first five and a half minutes of the quarter.
• Eckerd would flip the game going into the break as they outscored Tech 19-8 over the final 4:25 of the half.
• Lauryn Vieira's jumper in traffic just before the buzzer gave the Tritons a 36-34 advantage at halftime.

THIRD QUARTER:

• The third quarter would see both teams struggle to shoot the ball with Florida Tech going 3-14 from the field while Eckerd shot 2-13.
• The Tritons' advantage would come at the free throw line, where they went 8-12.
• Divine Guthrie, Jessica Lange and Stranger-Johannessen would account for the Crimson and Gray's scoring in the frame with a basket each.
• A 6-0 Eckerd run over the final 2:45 of the quarter pushed their lead to 48-40 entering the fourth.

 
FOURTH QUARTER:

• The Tritons scored nine of the final quarter's first 12 points to push their lead to 57-43 with 7:06 to go. Green accounted for five of those nine points during that stretch.
• A Guthrie jumper and a three-point play for Liberatore brought the Panthers to within nine with 5:36 remaining.
• That would be as close as Tech would get as Eckerd closed the game on a 16-6 run with Florida Tech getting all six of those points at the free throw line.
• Martyna Kowalska led the Tritons in the final frame with nine points.

 
NOTABLE PANTHERS:

• Sarah Liberatore led the Panthers with 12 points, going a perfect five-for-five at the charity stripe.
• Olivia Stephens notched seven rebounds.
• Emily Acampora added eight points and two steals.

 
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE:

• Florida Tech is now 52-28 all-time against Eckerd and 21-17 all-time in St. Petersburg.
• The Tritons have won five straight dating back to Feb. 12, 2020, and 13 of the last 14 meetings since Nov. 16, 2016. In addition, they have won seven straight matchups at the McArthur Center since Nov. 16, 2016.
• Tech finished the game shooting 29.8% (17-57) from the field, 17.6% (3-17) from beyond the arc, and 63.0% (17-27) on free throws.
• Eckerd shot 38.6% (27-70) in the contest, 17.4% (4-23) from the three-point range, and 75.0% (15-20) from the line.
• Florida Tech held the advantage in bench points (28-21).

 
 
UP NEXT: Florida Tech returns to action on Saturday, January 13 when they host Nova Southeastern at the Clemente Center. Tip-off is set for 2:00 p.m.
 
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