Despite Brilliant Team Performance, Spartans Fall to Mocs in Final Home Game

Tampa, Fla. – The University of Tampa women's basketball team falls to Florida Southern despite three Spartans being in double-digit figures.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:

Final: Florida Southern 56, #13 Tampa 51

Records: University of Tampa Spartans (21-4, 18-1 SSC), Florida Southern Moccasins (17-10,14-5 SSC)

Location: Bob Martinez Athletic Center | Tampa, Fla.

All-time Series: The Spartans trails Florida Southern 38-64 to split the two games this season between both teams.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

1st Quarter | The Mocs were the first team to get on the board to start the game. For the Spartans, Lashayla Wright-Ponder got them going with a made layup assisted by Julia Ingram. The next play on the defensive end, Dori Nagy showed her defensive ability by coming up with a steal that was helpful for the Spartans. For the remainder of the quarter, both teams were scoring back to back. Wright-Ponder was the main scorer as she finished with nine points. || Florida Southern 14, Tampa 11

2nd Quarter | Coming back from a break, Wright-Ponder kept it rolling right into the second quarter as she was the first scorer on the board. Nagy began to heat up, scoring the next three baskets for Tampa. Florida Southern shot well as they were jumping on a few scoring-runs, but Tampa's dynamic-duo down-low did not let the Mocs get out of reach. || Florida Southern 29, Tampa 25

3rd Quarter | The second half was not pleasurable for either team scoring-wise. The Spartans first basket of the quarter was not until the seventh minute which came from Ingram making good on a jumper. Both teams went on a field-goal scoring drought for about five minutes until it was broken by Melijah Sullivan, which were her first points of the game. The final basket was a three-point by the Mocs which gave them their biggest lead, 10. || Florida Southern 41, Tampa 31

4th Quarter | Looking to make a comeback, Tampa held the Mocs scoreless for the entire first half of the quarter. Going on a 8-0 run, Sullivan and Aliyah Abney made some big shots to bring Tampa within two. Florida Southern started to find their rhythm and were not making it easy for Tampa. Abney got the crowd going after making two back-to-back threes that tied the game with a minute remaining. || Florida Southern 56, Tampa 51.

INSIDE THE STATS:

· LaShayla Wright-Ponder was the leading scorer with 17 points and seven rebounds.

· Dori Nagy was the second leading scorer with 14 points and 12 rebounds.

· Aliyah Abney scored in double-digit figures with 10 points, shooting 4-6 and 2-2 from deep.

· Kris Nelson filled the stat sheet with five assists, five rebounds, and one steal.

BEYOND THE BOXSCORE:

· Dori Nagy recorded her eleventh double-double of the season.

UP NEXT: The Spartans last game of the regular season will be away at Lynn University in Boca Raton, Fla. this Saturday at 5:30 PM.

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