Spartans Punch Ticket to Elite Eight After Win Against Eckerd
TAMPA, Fla. – The University of Tampa women's basketball team punch their ticket to the Elite Eight as they defeat Eckerd in intense at-home matchup.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Final Score: University of Tampa Spartans 76, Eckerd University Tritons 53
Records: Tampa (33-1), Eckerd (26-6)
Location: Bob Martinez Athletic Center | Tampa, FL
All-Time Series: Tampa leads the all-time series 83-20. This is their first time playing Eckerd in the NCAA Tournament.
HOW IT HAPPENED
1st QUARTER
The stage was set as the game opened with a jumper from Melijah Sullivan. The ball then started rolling with an assist from Sydney Kin to Sullivan. Sullivan kept pushing as she scored a driving layup then assisted a bucket to Kin. A mid-range jumper from Sullivan put Tampa on a 10-0 run to open the game as she scored eight of those points. Out of the first media timeout, Eckerd scored their first points of the game. This didn't stop Tampa as Kin responded with a hook jumper. Sarah Jones closes out the scoring for Tampa with a three from an assist by Audrey Ramsey. Score: 17-10 (Tampa)
2nd QUARTER
The second quarter opens with Kin going 4-4 from the free throw line. After good ball movement, Ramsey sinks one of many threes this half. After an assisted layup from Eleanore Marciszewski to Kin it forces Eckerd to take a timeout. Eckerd comes out of the timeout with a running layup as they look to crack Tampa's lead. Back to back three's from Mya Giusto and Jones electrifies the crowd. Eckerd then hit two threes themselves putting them within 11. In the closing minutes of the quarter, Tampa goes on a 7-0 run and put Eckerd in a scoring drought for almost 3 minutes. Score: 40-26 (Tampa)
3rd QUARTER
The third quarter begins with a leaning back jumper from Kin. Eckerd comes back with an and-one but couldn't convert on the free throw. Tampa then experienced a minimal scoring drought but shots from Kin kept them afloat. Tampa turned the ball over four times, but quick defensive hands from Jones edged them in the right direction. Marciszewski found her spark as she converted for nine points this quarter. Score: 53-36 (Tampa)
4th QUARTER
The closing minutes of the game opened with Marciszewski continuing her run swishing a three. Giusto backed it up with another one. Kin converted for an and-one layup in the closing seconds of the shot clock resulting in the crowd erupting. Tampa then kept the momentum going scoring every way they could. The quarter closed out with Tampa securing the defensive rebound icing the game for them and officially punching their ticket into the Elite Eight. Score: 76-53 (Tampa)
INSIDE THE STATS
- Sydney Kin and Melijah Sullivan both finished with 20 points, Eleanore Marciszewski right behind them with 15 and Sarah Jones with 11
- Sydney Kin led with 16 rebounds
- Sarah Jones shot 3-3 from the three point line
- The starting five finished with four or more assist: Audrey Ramsey (5), Melijah Sullivan (5), Mya Giusto (4), Sarah Jones (4), Sydney Kin (4)
BEYOND THE BOX
- Sydney Kin finished 6-7 from the free throw line
- Tampa shot 57% from the three
- Tampa shot 89% from the free throw line
- Tampa out assisted Eckerd 24-10
- Tampa slightly out rebounded Eckerd 38-32
NEXT UP: Tampa heads into the Elite Eight as they go on the road to compete in the NCAA Quarterfinals in St. Joseph's, Missouri. Their next opponent is TBA.