Tampa Advances to SSC Tourney Final for Second Straight Year
Spartans to play for SSC championship and automatic NCAA berth on Sun Sports.
BOCA RATON, Fla. - The University of Tampa women's basketball team reserved a spot in tomorrow's Sunshine State Conference championship game with a 66-58 victory over 18th-ranked Florida Tech. The Spartans, who won last year's SSC tourney title, will play Rollins College in a rematch of last season's championship game.
The victory improves the Spartans to 22-7 on the season as they have already secured the program's first-ever back-to-back 20-plus win seasons. The Panthers drop to 23-6 though they still expect to earn a bid to the NCAA Tournament. The victory also marked the third of the season for UT over Florida Tech.
"We are extremely proud of our kids," says Head Coach Tom Jessee. "I feel that they represented UT extremely well."
Florida Tech, who scored the game's first two baskets to take a 5-0 lead, allowed Tampa to rattle off seven straight points for a 7-5 lead. After the Panthers scored a basket to even the score at seven apiece, the Spartans kicked it into high gear while scoring the next eight points.
UT allowed the Panthers to get as close as three points in the first half before extending a 29-19 halftime lead. The Spartans did squander an opportunity to do further damage as connected on just 10-18 first-half free throws.
The Spartans came out in the second half with the same tenacity and were able to go on a 5-0 run after the Panthers scored the initial basket of the half. Leading 34-21 with 17:08 remaining in the contest, the Spartans held the double figure advantage until Florida Tech buried a three-pointer to cut the Spartan lead to 58-50 with 1:36 left to go. The Spartan defense then mounted four consecutive stops and were aided by free throws by DeShaydia Mackey and Alexa Kane to close the door on the Panthers.
"I thought we played defensively like we needed to do," says Jessee. "It was a tough, physical game. We got to the line but did not finish the free throws like we should have. I am proud of our kids and what we have done."
Mackey matched a career high with 21 points, making 6-11 field goals and two free throws. Though the Spartans shot just 58.5 percent from the free throw line, Mackey was the lone bright spot from the charity stripe as she made 7-8. She also led the Spartans with three assists.
Sheena Walton and Erica Woodard also registered double figures, scoring 15 and 10 points respectively. Walton, who led the team with 11 rebounds, earned the team's lone double-double. Kane also chipped in nine points and seven rebounds to go with a team-high two steals.
Tampa now has its sights set on the SSC title game as they are looking to win the program's third tourney championship. After defeating Rollins to win the tournament last season, the Spartans advance to their second consecutive league championship game for the first time school history.