MELBOURNE, Fla. – The Florida Tech women's basketball team kept the game close until the fourth quarter when Eckerd slipped away to a 52-37 victory.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final: Florida Tech 37, Eckerd 52
Records: Florida Tech (4-5, 1-4 SSC), Eckerd (7-2, 4-1 SSC)
Location: Clemente Center | Melbourne, Fla.
 
FIRST QUARTER:

• Eckerd took the opening tip-off but stepped out of bounds for the game's first turnover.
• On the following possession, Kyandra Poitier grabbed an offensive rebound and forced a foul for two free throws, earning the game's first two points. She would haul in five rebounds in the first four minutes.
• Four minutes in, the Tritons had a 4-2 advantage. However, Tai Roberts got to the charity stripe on the next Panthers' possession and made both, tying the game.
• The Panthers retook the lead when Roberts' offensive rebound turned into two more made free throws. Tech extended the edge to 11-7 when Poitier drilled a three-pointer.
• However, the Tritons finished the quarter on a 7-0 run to hold the advantage.

 SECOND QUARTER:

• Poitier continued to play well, dropping in a midrange jumper to draw the Panthers within one early in the quarter
• Remingtyn Smith earned her first points on the season in her first appearance with a fifteen-foot jumper just outside the paint.
• Tech held Eckerd for two and a half minutes without a field goal before the Tritons drained a three to take the 23-17 advantage with under four minutes to go in the half.
• The rest of the offense for both teams was three free throws combined for a 25-18 halftime score.

 THIRD QUARTER:

• Emily Acampora hit the first two shots of the second half; however, Tech was still down by 8 with seven minutes remaining in the quarter.
• Each team made a couple of shots in the next three minutes as Tech remained 10 points down to Eckerd at the media timeout.
• Both teams traded multiple turnovers before a Divine Guthrie steal and Poitier fade away, ending a five-minute scoring drought. The Panthers head into the final quarter down 34-26.

 FOURTH QUARTER:

• Poitier began the final quarter with a steal, then drove for a basket on the other end, making it a two-possession game.
•  A layup from Roberts, then a steal to a driving layup from Smith, put the Panthers just four points away with five minutes remaining.
• Eckerd went on a 15-2 run, making four of their last five shots, in the final five minutes to secure a victory for the Tritons.

NOTABLE PANTHERS:

• Kyandra Poitier led the team in points with 12 and rebounds with 10, making it her first double-double of the season. She also tallied a block and two steals
• Tai Roberts also compiled double figures with 10 points and hauled in seven rebounds.
• Mikayla Morin and Remingtyn Smith each had two blocks. Smith made her season debut, scoring four points.

INSIDE THE BOXSCORE:

• The Panthers are still 53-29 against the Tritons all-time and 30-11 at home.

 UP NEXT: Florida Tech hosts the Holiday Classic, playing Flagler for the second time this season at noon on Friday, December 20.
 
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