Tampa Completes Regular Season Sweep Over Barry

MIAMI SHORES, Fla. – The University of Tampa Spartans traveled down south to take on the Barry University Buccaneers in a key Sunshine State Conference game. The Spartans would defeat the Bucs 69-60, and claim the regular season sweep over BU. Tampa snaps a three-game losing streak and sit at 14-12 overall and 7-7 in Sunshine State Conference play. Barry drops to 17-8 and 9-6 in SSC play.

Offensively, Juliana Cavallaro paced the offense as she recorded 19 points on 6-13 shooting for the afternoon. A trio of Spartans scored 12 points as Angela Alvarez, Ellen Nurmi, and Elena de Alfredo reached the mark. De Alfredo would record her second double-double of the season as the guard would pull down 10 rebounds.

Tampa and Barry played a back and forth first quarter, as the Bucs took a 17-15 advantage after the first 10 minutes of play. BU would hold a 17-11 advantage before the Spartans scored the final four points of the quarter.

UT would continue their run into the second quarter as they scored the first 10 points of the second quarter to push the run up to 14-0 and hold a 25-17 advantage on BU. Tampa would lead by as many as 11 points in the second quarter before Barry was able to cut the lead down to four at 37-33 heading into halftime.

Cavallaro paced the team in the half, as the senior had eight points. Nurmi also contributed with seven points. The Spartans played a good first half defensively, as they were able to cause seven turnovers in the first half and did not allow the Bucs to take a free-throw attempt.

Barry would tie the game at 47 with 1:40 left to play in the third quarter after converting on a free-throw. On the ensuing possession, Cavallaro would give UT the lead again as she drained a three-pointer from the left wing. Cavallaro would later make a layup with time expiring to give Tampa a 52-49 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

The Spartans would maintain the lead in the fourth quarter as they would outscore the Bucs 17-11 in the final 10 minutes of play.

As a team UT shot 43.9 percent (25-57) and would outscore BU 28-22 in the paint. Tampa also held the advantage in bench points at 10-5, and would commit just four turnovers, while causing 13.

The University of Tampa will be back in action again on Wednesday, February 24 against the Lynn University Fighting Knights. Wednesday will mark senior night for the Spartans.

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