MIAMI SHORES, Fla. – The Florida Tech women's basketball team returned to the hardwood on Saturday afternoon, taking the trip south for a Sunshine State Conference matchup with Barry. The Panthers provided a 40-minute effort but the Buccaneers went six-for-six at the free throw line in the game's final minute to earn the 81-76 victory.
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final: Florida Tech 76, Barry 81
Records: Florida Tech (8-19, 3-13 SSC), Barry (9-15, 4-12 SSC)
Location:  Health and Sports Center | Miami Shores, Fla.
 
FIRST QUARTER:

• After winning the opening tip, the Panthers took the lead after 21 seconds thanks to a Breazia Robinson layup.
• Barry would respond with seven straight points through an Audrey Jennings three-point play and a layup and jumper from Aijah Palmer layup.
• Tech worked the deficit back down to two points through a Sarah Liberatore three and Tai Roberts jumper just over two minutes apart.
• The Buccaneers earned their next six points at the free throw line thanks to Jennings, Madison McFerrin and Lauren Livingston.
• A Chiara Fusari triple extended the Barry advantage to seven.
• The teams traded baskets over the final 3:11 with Liberatore's two free throws with 19 seconds remaining in the quarter responsible for the 22-17 score after the first.

SECOND QUARTER:

• Liberatore tallied the first two points of the quarter with a pair of free throws 24 seconds in.
• A 9-2 run by the Bucs over the next 3:18 stretched the deficit back to double digits.
• For the remainder of the half, the teams traded baskets but the Panthers could not draw closer than seven points and Barry took a 42-31 lead into the locker room.
• The key for the Buccaneers' surge was their 56.3% (9-16) shooting mark from the field.
• Jennings contributed nine points in the frame.

THIRD QUARTER:

• Back-to-back Emily Acampora threes inside the first 1:20 of the second half sliced the deficit to five and caused Barry to call an early timeout.
• Just over a minute later, Kyandra Poitier made her first free throw and after the Panthers rebounded her miss on the second, she was left uncovered at the basket for the easy basket to make it a two-point game.
• Jennings' three off of a turnover created some breathing room for the Bucaneers, only for the Crimson and Gray to immediately respond with a Liberatore layup.
• After Livingston split two free throws, a Roberts layup, turnover courtesy of the press and Olivia Stephens layup brought Florida Tech level at 46 with just over five and a half minutes left in the quarter.
• Stephens' two free throws at 4:18 gave Tech their first lead since 2-0.
• Poitier's putback layup extended the lead to four.
• Kayla Lindsey erased the deficit with a jumper and then a layup from a Panther turnover to knot the proceedings at 50 with 2:44 left in the quarter.
• As Barry attempted to create some breathing room, Liberatore wouldn't let it happen, matching consecutive Buc baskets with four points of her own.
• Jennings' putback with 30 seconds on the clock gave the Buccaneers a 58-56 lead going to the final quarter.

FOURTH QUARTER:

• Roberts put the Crimson and Gray ahead in the first 28 seconds of the quarter by sinking all four free throws she took on her two trips to the line.
• After a Fusari layup tied the game once again, Poitier regained the lead for the Panthers with a jumper at the 9:10 mark.
• Acampora split a pair of free throws at 8:11 to help pad the Florida Tech cushion.
• Poitier gave Tech their largest of the day at 7:07 to make it a 65-60 game with a perfect trip at the line.
• Jennings knocked down two free throws and after a stop, her layup would shrink the Tech lead to 65-64 with 6:16 to play.
• Following a Divine Guthrie free throw, a Livingston three put Barry back on top, 67-66 with 4:47 remaining.
• Guthrie went perfect at the line out of a timeout to restore the Panther advantage with 4:41 left.
• The Buccaneers re-took the lead on their next possession thanks to two Livingston free throws.
• After Florida Tech were unable to match on their ensuing possession, a Bucs offensive rebound led to a Livingston triple to extend their lead to four.
• Poitier's jumper with 3:47 to go gave the Crimson and Gray a lifeline.
• Lindsey split two free throws at 2:56 to keep it a one possession game.
• Stephens split a pair of free throws with 2:40 to go to bring Florida Tech within 73-71.
• An offensive foul on Roberts with just under two minutes remaining was her fifth, bringing her afternoon to a close.
• Livingston made one free throw with 1:26 to go but would not get a second as the result of a lane violation.
• Guthrie would make only one of two at the line with 1:18 on the clock but a jump ball saw the arrow pointed Florida Tech's way with just over a minute remaining.
• Liberatore was fouled on her ensuing drive to the basket but missed both free throws.
• Britney Mapang hit one of two at the line to push the lead back to 75-72 with 47 seconds to go.
• Stephens would do the same on Florida Tech's next possession.
• Livingston hit both of her free throws to give Barry a 77-73 advantage with 30 seconds left.
• Following a timeout, Guthrie missed a close range layup. Mapang grabbed the rebound, was fouled and sunk both of her free throws.
• Out of a timeout, Guthrie took the inbound, drove baseline, converted the layup, was fouled and hit the free throw to keep Panther hopes alive.
• Following a Barry timeout, Livingston threw the inbound pass across the court and out of bounds, giving Tech a chance to potentially tie the game.
• Acampora's deep three was short and when Barry pulled down the rebound, Fusari's two free throws sealed the win for the Buccaneers.

NOTABLE PANTHERS:

• Tai Roberts led Florida Tech in scoring  with 18 points on six-of-12 shooting from the field and a perfect six-of-six at the free throw line.
• Sarah Liberatore provided 16 points, four rebounds and two steals.
• Emily Acampora added 14 points and four rebounds.
• Kyandra Poitier contributed 11 points and nine rebounds.

INSIDE THE BOXSCORE:

• Florida Tech is now 45-38 all-time against Barry and 19-19 all-time vs. the Buccaneers in Miami Shores.
• The Buccaneers have won six consecutive meetings against the Panthers and eight of the past 11 dating back to Janury 19, 2019.
• Tech finished the game shooting 33.3% (23-69) from the field, 23.5% (4-17) from beyond the arc, and 72.2% (26-36) on free throws.
• Barry shot 41.9% (26-62) in the contest, 35.0% (7-20) from the three-point range, and 71.0% (22-31) from the line.
• Florida Tech held the advantage in points off turnovers (18-11), points in the point (30-28) and bench points (20-10).

UP NEXT: Florida Tech hit the road for the final time in the regular season on Wednesday, February 21 when they travel to Lakeland for an SSC battle with Florida Southern. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m.
 
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