Spartans Dominate Puerto Rico-Mayaguez

TAMPA, Fla. - The University of Tampa women's basketball team used their height advantage to dominate Puerto Rico-Mayaguez on Sunday afternoon. 

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:

Final Score: University of Tampa Spartans 89, Puerto Rico-Mayaguez 40

Records: University of Tampa (3-0, 0-0 SSC), Puerto Rico-Mayaguez Janes (0-1)

Location: Bob Martinez Athletics Center || Tampa, Fla. 

All-Time Series: This was the first ever meeting between the two programs.

HOW IT HAPPENED:
1st Quarter | After winning the opening tip, Dori Nagy worked her way to the charity stripe to begin the afternoon for UT making two free-throws. Puerto Rico-Mayaguez responded with a three pointer from Maria Medina to take the 3-2 lead. However, the Spartans grabbed momentum after the brief deficit, going on a 24-0 run in the next eight minutes. Staja Tyghter rattled off eight points during the first-quarter spurt. In the opening quarter, Tampa owned the glass securing 17 rebounds compared to PRM's eight. UT led 28-12 at the end of the period. 

2nd Quarter | The scoring went cold in the second quarter as the two teams combined to shoot 25%. UT held PRM to three made field goals in the quarter, as the Spartans took a 40-18 lead into the half. Tampa finished the half with the lead in made free-throws by a wide margin, 11-0, however UT missed nine free-throw attempts. Tyghter led the way posting 11 points in the opening half while Nagy racked up eight rebounds. Kris Nelson was able to jump-start the offense with her four assists in the first 20 minutes of play. 

3rd Quarter | In the middle of the quarter, Julia Ingram drained three straight long-ball opportunities to extend the Spartans lead to 30. Ingram totaled 14 points in the quarter, adding another long-ball and two free throws. Puerto Rico-Mayaguez's Monica Perez tallied eight points on two three-pointers. Tampa entered the final quarter holding a 62-34 advantage. 

4th Quarter | Tyghter began the final quarter by recording six straight points, ultimately scoring 19 points on the evening. The Spartans finished the night 23-35 (66%) from the free-throw line as Ingram led the way with a perfect 6-6 from the charity stripe. UT went on an 18-2 run in the final five minutes of the contest.

INSIDE THE STATS:

• Tampa out-rebounded the Janes 52-33, however things were even on offensive side as each team accumulated 12 boards.
• UT's bench out-scored PRM on the evening, 41-40. 
• The Spartans logged 23 assists compared to Puerto Rico-Mayaguez's four. 
• Nagy notched 13 rebounds in 20 minutes of play. She scored five points, all of which came from the free-throw line. 

BEYOND THE BOX:

• Ingram went 6-9 from three-point range, netting a career-high 24 points in 23 minutes of play. 

UP NEXT: The University of Tampa will travel to Alaska for the Thanksgiving break and they will take on Gannon University and the University of Alaska-Fairbanks on Thursday and Saturday, respectively. 

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