Spartans Own This House In Win Over Saint Leo

TAMPA, Fla. – The University of Tampa Spartans women's basketball team beat the Saint Leo University Lions, 85-78, to stay perfect on the season. 

INSIDE THE MATCHUP

Final: University of Tampa Spartans 85, Saint Leo University Lions 78

Records: Tampa (3-0), Saint Leo Lions (2-2).

Location: Bob Martinez Athletics Center | Tampa, Fla.

All-Time Series: Tampa leads the all-time series 86-16.

HOW IT HAPPENED

1st QUARTER

Graduate student LaShayla Wright-Ponder and Junior Melijah Sullivan once again started off strong, scoring 10 of the Spartans first 12 points. Senior Aliyah Abney scored two points of her own and chipped in three rebounds, three assists, and a steal.  The Spartans and Lions played a game of trading baskets, with the Lions leading by two at the end of the first frame. Score: 20-18 SLU

2nd QUARTER

A Wright-Ponder layup gave the Spartans their second lead of the game with 8:21 left in the second. Saint Leo scored a three-point basket to put themselves up two with a minute remaining but Wright-Ponder continued to dominate, scoring eight points to lead all scorers, and shot a near perfect 3-4 from the field. She scored the final four points in the final minute to put Tampa up for good. The Spartans never looked back. Score: 37-35 Tampa

3rd QUARTER

The third quarter was all Tampa, as the Spartans saw their lead grow to double digits. Saint Leo again had no answer for Wright-Ponder, who again led all scorers with 10 points in the quarter on 4-5 shooting. Freshman Audrey Ramsey and Senior Julia Ingram both added a three-pointer in the quarter. Ingram was Tampa's second leading scorer with six points. Abney added four points and Sullivan again showed off her all-around game, grabbing two rebounds, dishing out three assists with one steal in the quarter. Score: 62-51 Tampa

4th QUARTER

The Spartans rode a team effort in the fourth. Five players scored in the final quarter, and four recorded four or more points: Sullivan (6), Ramsey (6), Abney, (5), Wright-Ponder (4). Wright-Ponder grabbed five rebounds in the fourth and finished the game one rebound off a double-double. Score: 85-78 Tampa

INSIDE THE STATS

• LaShayla Wright-Ponder finished with a season-high 26 points on 11-13 shooting, going a perfect 4-4 from the free throw line. She also grabbed nine rebounds, had two assists, two blocks, and two steals.
• Melijah Sullivan continues to put up gaudy numbers across the board, putting up a 17-5-7 line on 58% shooting. She added two steals.
• Audrey Ramsey was a force off the bench scoring 12 points in the high-scoring affair, including 2-3 from the beyond the arc.
• The Spartans four players score in double digits: Wright-Ponder (26), Sullivan (17), Aliyah Abney (14), and Ramsey (14).
• Abney and Sullivan both recorded seven assists apiece.

BEYOND THE BOX

• The Spartans have not lost to Saint Leo at home since January 16, 2013.

UP NEXT: The Spartans play at home on Saturday against the Florida Tech Panthers at 2:00 p.m.

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