Box Score LAKELAND, Fla. – Florida Tech women's basketball team headed to Lakeland, Fla., for their final road contest of the 2023-24 season. Despite overcoming an early deficit and holding the Mocs to just four points in the second period, the Panther's fourth-quarter struggles proved to be costly.  
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final: Florida Tech 58, Florida Southern 65
Records: Florida Tech (8-20, 3-14 SSC), Florida Southern (14-11, 7-11 SSC)
Location: George W. Jenkins Field House | Lakeland, Fla.
 
FIRST QUARTER:

• Back-to-back driving layups by Kyandra Poitier put the Panthers up 4-0 right out of the gate.
• The Mocs answered back, going on a 12-2 run to go up 12-6 with 4:02 to go.
• Tai Roberts sunk her first two baskets, both on pull-up jumpers, with a Mocs-made basket in between.
• A three pointer by Marissa Jenike gave FSC their largest lead of the half, 17-10, with 1:15 on the clock.
• After a huge block on the defensive end from Jessica Lange, Lange converted a three-point play to cut the deficit to four.
• FSC's Sydney Gomes sunk a turnaround jumper to take a 19-13 lead into the second period.

 
SECOND QUARTER:

• The Panther defense held FSC to just four points in the second frame.
• Their first two points came on a fast break layup.
• Dalma Ehmann posted a layup, and Poitier split a pair of free throws before FSC scored their final two points in the period on another layup.
• Tech went on a 10-0 run to go into the break with a three-point lead.
• Five of Tech's 10 points came from Poitier, while the other five came on an Emily Acampora three and a second-chance pull-up jumper by Roberts.

 
THIRD QUARTER:

• Teams traded baskets on the first four possessions of the period before Tech went on a 9-3 run to take their largest lead, 39-30 with 5:24 to go.
• FSC answered back, going on a 13-2 run to cut the Panthers' lead to just one, 41-40.
• The Mocs took the lead back with a stepback three with 2:28 remaining.
• Divine Guthrie drove in for a layup to tie it up.
• The Mocs capitalized on a Panther turnover to put them up by two before Sarah Liberatore sunk a three to give the Panthers a one-point lead heading into the final frame.

 
 
FOURTH QUARTER:

• Opening the final frame with a 6-0 run, the Panthers went up by seven thanks to baskets by Acampora and Poitier.
• After trading baskets, the Mocs took an opportunity to go on a 13-2 run over a four-minute span.
• Tech's two points during the Mocs run came on a fast break layup by Poitier.
• Roberts scored a turnaround jumper to cut the deficit to three, but the Mocs prevailed on free throws sinking four free throws in the final 30 seconds to earn a 65-58 win. 

NOTABLE PANTHERS:

• Kyandra Poitier was just shy of a double-double, posting 21 points and eight rebounds while also adding one assist and one steal.
• Tai Roberts added eight points, five rebounds, one assist, and one steal.
• Divine Guthrie posted six points, five rebounds, two assists, and one block.

INSIDE THE BOXSCORE:

• Florida Tech moves to 41-53 all-time against the Florida Southern Moccasins.
• Tech finished the game shooting 33.8% (24-71) from the field, 21.1% (4-19) from beyond the arc, and 81.3% (13-16) on free throws.
• FSC shot 38.3% (23-60) in the contest, 33.3% (2-6) from the three-point range, and 83.3% (10-12) from the line.
• Florida Tech held the advantage in points in the paint (26-30) while FSC lead in second-chance points (8-6), and fast break points (13-11).

 
UP NEXT: Florida Tech returns to the Clemente Center on Saturday, Feb. 24, when they host Saint Leo at 2 p.m.
 
For the latest news, updates and information on the Florida Tech women's basketball team, visit FloridaTechSports.com. Fans can also stay up-to-date on the latest Panthers news by following Florida Tech Athletics on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.