Spartans Look to Split Regular Season Series Saturday vs. Florida Tech
TAMPA, Fla. - The University of Tampa men's and women's basketball teams will suit up this Saturday for an anticipated match-up against Florida Tech at the Bob Martinez Athletics Center.
Action will begin at 2 p.m., with the blazing Tampa women, looking to add to their seven game winning streak.
The Spartans have moved to a 15-5 overall record and an impressive 8-2 record in the Sunshine State Conference (SSC). The team is coming off of a much needed 78-57 victory over No.15 Rollins earlier this week. The game featured a confident Tampa squad who never looked back after jumping out to a 9-0 run to start the game. Shamika Williams recorded her fourth double- double (15 points and 13 rebounds), while Juliana Cavallaro led the way with 19 points.
In its last four games, UT has kept its opponents at bay with stellar defense, forcing them to shoot below 37 percent from the field, while making it a point to crash the boards for second chance opportunities.
Ellen Nurmi leads the way averaging 11.9 ppg, while Taylor McVey is close behind with 11.7 ppg and 7.4 rpg. Two other Spartans average double figure scoring; Illyssa Vivo and Cavallaro register 10 points apiece per contest.
Florida Tech is coming off of an 81-67 win against Saint Leo at home. The Panthers are 14-8 overall and 5-5 in conference play. The team is led by Kayk Wilson who scored 26 points in their victory over the Lions. Wilson is averaging 18.7 ppg.
The all-time series is tied up at 31 after the Panthers trumped the Spartans earlier this season with a final showing of 72-62.
Approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of the women's contest, the Tampa men will take on the Panthers in a game likely to feature a plethora of athletic dunks and moves.
Tampa enters the contest with an overall record of 13-6 and conference records of 6-4.The Spartans are also coming off of a win on the road against Rollins. Da'Markco Foster led the squad with 20 points in the team's 72-57 performance over the Tars.
Foster leads the team in scoring averaging 16.1 ppg, while Jordan Davis and Eric Moraes both contribute just over 11 points per match.
As a unit, the Spartans have displayed a great defensive energy keeping their opponents shooting under 40 percent in its last two games.
The Panthers are 14-7 on the season and 4-6 in the conference. The team is coming off of a 64-67 loss against Saint Leo. Three players average double figure scoring for Florida Tech; including current SSC Player of the Week Corbin Jackson, recording 15.8 points and 11.3 rebounds per game. Jermaine Jackson heads the bunch with 20.7 ppg.
Tampa has the 46-22 advantage in the all-time battle against Florida Tech. The Panthers defeated the Spartans 71-66 in the first meeting this season in Melbourne, Fla.
Tickets are available at the gate for $5. Children 12-and-under will be admitted free. UT faculty, staff and students are admitted free when displaying a valid Spartan ID card.
UT will offer live stats and a webcast for the match through TampaSpartans.tv.
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