Women's Basketball Returns From Break With 18-Point Win

• INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
  Final Score: Tampa Spartans 53, Embry-Riddle Eagles 35
  Records: Tampa (11-2, 4-2 SSC), Embry-Riddle (9-3, 3-2 SSC)
  Location: ICI Center| Daytona Beach, Fla.
  All-time Series: Following the first-ever Sunshine State Conference meeting between UT and ERAU, Tampa now leads the series 3-2.
  Follow Us: @TampaSpartans on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and Vimeo
  
  HOW IT HAPPENED:
  1st Quarter | Tampa outscored Embry-Riddle 13-11 in the first quarter, leading by as many as six points in its first game since December 19. Senior Karma Jeremie had six points to lead the Spartans as she was a perfect 3-for-3 from the field. The Spartans shot 54.5 percent from the field in the opening quarter.

2nd Quarter | The Spartans limited their opponent to just four second-quarter points as the Eagles shot just 15.4 percent from the field. Tampa would outscore its opponent 14-4 in the quarter and lead by as many as 12 points. Staja Tyghter grabbed seven rebounds in the quarter as she went to the half with 12 boards. Jeremie added a pair of points in the second quarter as her and Tyghter each notched eight first-half points.

3rd Quarter |  The defensive effort for Tampa continued as it held the Eagles to a 9.1 shooting percentage on 1-of-11 shooting from the field. The Spartans would shoot 45.5 percent while also connecting on a pair of 3-pointers. A 3-pointer at the buzzer by Emily Eshoo gave Tampa its largest lead of the afternoon at 19 points. Tampa would outscore the Eagles 12-5 in the third.

4th Quarter | Embry-Riddle outscored the Spartans 15-14 in the quarter, shooting 50 percent from the field as the Spartans registered a 62.5 field goal percentage. The Spartans connected on a pair of 3-pointers in the final quarter.

INSIDE THE STATS:

• Tyghter finished with 12 points and a team-leading 17 rebounds, marking a new career high. Her three steals were also a team high.
• Emily Eshoo led Tampa in scoring with 13 points off the bench. She connected on three from long-range and 5-for-7 from the field.
• Three Spartans scored in double figures as Rachel Warden pitched in 11 points.
• Karma Jeremie had double-digit rebounds with 10 as she also netted eight points. She also led all Spartans with six assists.

BEYOND THE BOXSCORE:

• Tom Jessee is approaching another milestone as the 16th year Spartan head coach now stands at 484 career wins.
• The victory also came on Jessee's birthday. He has now won six straight games on his birthday at UT and stands at 7-1 at UT on games played on December 30.
• The double-double for Tyghter marks her third of the season, with the others coming against West Georgia and Anderson.

UP NEXT:
Tampa will ring in the new year on Saturday, January 6 when it plays host to Palm Beach Atlantic University at 2 p.m., at the Martinez Center.

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