Spartans Unable To Pull Upset Over Mocs

LAKELAND, Fla.- The Tampa Spartans women's basketball team kicked off 2016 with a road Sunshine State Conference game against the 22^nd ranked Florida Southern Mocs. The Mocs used a strong second half to pull out a 71-67 victory. The loss drops Tampa to 6-7 and 0-4 in SSC. Florida Southern moves to 12-1 and 4-1 in conference play.

Four Spartans scored in double figures as Juliana Cavallaro and Elena de Alfredo each scored 14 points. Cavallaro lead the team in rebounds as she picked up nine boards.

Taylor McVey added 14 points, while Karma Jeremie had 12.

The two teams traded baskets back and forth in the opening quarter as the Spartans held a 19-16 lead after the first 10 minutes. Jeremie led all scorers in the opening stanza as the sophomore collected seven points, including a layup at the buzzer.

UT started the second quarter with a 7-0 run to take a 26-16 lead over FSC. The Mocs would answer back with a run of their own as they would pull within three points at 32-29 with 1:25 in the half. After a Spartan timeout, Jeremie found Ellen Nurmi in the corner for three to halt the Mocs momentum. UT would go into the half holding a 37-31 lead.

Tampa finished the half shooting 50 percent (15-30) from the field, and outscored Florida Southern in the paint 22-8. McVey led UT in the half with eight points, and Cavallaro lead the team with seven boards.

In the third quarter of play the Mocs were able to tie the game at 51 entering the fourth quarter. FSC made their comeback from the free throw line, as they connected on nine shots from the charity stripe.

In the fourth quarter of play the two teams traded baskets as the game remained close down the stretch. With 38 second left to play in the game, Jeremie made a pair of free throws to pull within one, but the Spartans were unable to pull back ahead as the dropped the contest 71-67. 

As a team Tampa shot 44.2 percent (23-52) and outscored Florida Southern 34-14 in the paint. The key stat for FSC was their free throws, as they went 25-28 from the charity stripe.