MELBOURNE, Fla. – The Florida Tech women's basketball team took to the court for the final time in 2023-24 on Saturday afternoon at the Clemente Center against #16 ranked Tampa. Prior to the game, the program honored their three seniors in Lina Stranger-Johannessen, Farah Shaaban and Olivia Stephens. While the Panthers displayed a sustained, tough effort that has been so much of a staple of the season, the Spartans used excellent shooting to ultimately pull away for a 71-61 victory.
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final: Florida Tech 61, #16 Tampa 71
Records: Florida Tech (10-21, 5-15 SSC), #16 Tampa (26-5, 17-3 SSC)
Location: Clemente Center | Melbourne, Fla.
 
FIRST QUARTER:

• The first quarter opened with the Panthers and Spartans trading baskets as both teams found themselves tied 7-7 after six minutes of play.
• Tai Roberts, Jessica Lange, and Lina Stranger-Johannessen all contributed a basket for Tech with Breazia Robinson knocking down a free throw in the opening minutes of play for the Panthers.
• Sarah Liberatore knocked down the first three of the game followed by a layup from Dalma Ehmann to give Tech the first two-position lead of the contest, 13-9.
• A seven-point run in the final 1:15 of the first by the Spartans put Tampa ahead 16-13.

SECOND QUARTER:

• The Spartans continued their run scoring a layup to open the second before the Panthers came back to tie it after trailing by five to make it 18-18.
• The Panther's five points were thanks to a three from Stranger-Johannessen and a layup from Roberts.
• Stranger-Johannessen's second three of the game came right after a UT layup to give Tech the 21-20 lead with 6:45 to play in the half.
• UT took a three-point lead but soon found themselves tied against the Panthers once again this time 24-24 after Olivia Stephens knocked down another Florida tech three.
• The Spartans would go on a six-point run over the course of three minutes to put the Panthers down by six, 30-24 with 1:36 to play.
• Stranger-Johannessen closed out the half by knocking down her third three of the half with 15 seconds left in the quarter to make it a three-point game 30-27 heading into Halftime.

THIRD QUARTER:

• Lange recorded the first basket of the third to put Tech's deficit to just one point.
• As Tech was still down by just one 32-31, the Spartans rallied for six straight points to pull ahead 37-31.
• An And-1 play from Devine Guthrie helped bring the Panthers back to within four with 5:57 to play.
• Down 40-34, Lange and Guthrie combined for four points as the Spartans still led 40-38..
• Guthrie brought the Panthers back to within one point 40-41 following a mid-range jumper.
• The Spartans closed out the third scoring six straight points in the final 2:45 which was highlighted by two successful layups from Zoe Piller.

 
FOURTH QUARTER:

• Both teams could only muster points from the free throw line during the first two and a half minutes of the stanza as UT extended their lead to 53-43.
• Stranger-Johannessen buried triples on consecutive possessions in between Spartan free throws to bring the Crimson and Gray within six with 6:39 remaining.
• That would be as close as the Panthers would get, however, as Tampa responded with an 8-2 run over the ensuing 2:04 to bring their lead to 63-51.
• As they did throughout the game, UT sealed the victory at the free throw line, going five-for-six at the charity stripe in the final minute.

 
NOTABLE PANTHERS:

• Lina Stranger-Johannessen made it a memorable Senior Day by leading the Panthers in scoring with 23 points on eight-of-10 shooting, including six-of-seven from three. Her six made threes are tied for the seventh most in a game in program history and match the career high she set on February 13, 2021 vs. Barry.

INSIDE THE BOXSCORE:

• Florida Tech is now 53-25 all-time against Tampa and 22-16 all-time vs. the Spartans at home.
• Tampa have won 12 consecutive meetings dating back to February 7, 2018.
• Tech finished the game shooting 43.1% (22-51) from the field, 53.3% (8-15) from beyond the arc, and 60% (9-15) on free throws.
• Tampa shot 52.2% (24-46) in the contest, 16.7% (1-6) from the three-point range, and 84.6% (22-26) from the line.
• Florida Tech held the advantage in offensive rebounds (9-8) and second chance points (10-5).

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