#15 Tampa Downs The Embry-Riddle Eagles

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.  – The University of Tampa women's basketball team gained a win over Embry-Riddle behind LaShayla Wright-Ponder's double-double.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final: #15 Tampa 64, Embry-Riddle 47   
Records: University of Tampa Spartans (19-3, 16-0 SSC), Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Eagles (9-13, 7-9 SSC)
Location: ICI Center | Daytona Beach, Fla.
All-time Series: Tampa leads the all-time series with a 6-4 mark. The first meeting was only 4 years ago.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

1st Quarter | Tonight's game started off as a slow pace for both teams. Neither team were converting on their shots, and turnovers were a problem early on. The first basket of the game, from one of the Spartans leading scorer this season, Melijah Sullivan, did not come until the sixth minute of the quarter. That jump started the Eagles as well as they scored quickly after. Tampa's defense limited Embry-Riddle to only three made baskets in the quarter. However, for the Spartans, their scoring got on a roll and some quality points were provided from the bench. Aliyah Abneydrained two three-pointers and had a total of eight points to finish the first set of 10 minutes. || Tampa 18, Embry-Riddle 7

2nd Quarter | The second quarter was similar to the first with not much scoring from both sides. The Eagles could not do much against the Spartans defense and that allowed for Tampa to jump to their biggest lead of the game, 16. Two of Tampa's leading scorers, Sullivan and Wright-Ponder contributed to the decent lead the team held.  || Tampa 31, Embry-Riddle 20

3rd Quarter | The third quarter was all about Wright-Ponder. It seemed as though the Eagles could not stop her once she received the ball in the paint. Being in foul trouble, Dori Nagy received her first points of the game at the charity strike. Tampa finished this quarter shooting a field-goal percentage of 42.9% compared to Embry-Riddle's percentage of 35.3%.  || Tampa 46, Embry-Riddle 33 

4th Quarter | The final quarter wasn't much of a surprise given the rest of the game. Leading scorer for the season, Nagy, started the final 10 minutes off fairly quickly with three quick points for the Spartans. Julia Ingram came alive as well by knocking down a three for her first basket of the game. Abney continued her good scoring from the first quarter, finishing the game with 12 points.   || Tampa 64, Embry-Riddle 47

INSIDE THE STATS:

• LaShayla Wright-Ponder was the leading scorer and rebounder with 18 points and 18 rebounds. 
• Both Aliyah Abney and Melijah Sullivan scored in double-digit figures with 14 and 12 points.
• Tampa limited Embry-Riddle to a shooting percent of 35%.
• Tampa out-rebounded the Eagles 37-27.

BEYOND THE BOXSCORE:

• LaShayla Wright-Ponder has tallied her seventh double-double of the season.
• UP NEXT: The Spartans will return to their home court in Tampa which will spark their three-game home streak with their first match-up against Florida Tech next Wednesday at 5:30 pm. 

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