Spartans Take First Game at Las Vegas Invite

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – The No. 13 University of Tampa women's basketball team continue their 10 game win streak as they kick off the Las Vegas Classic with a win over the Wisconsin-Parkside Rangers.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP 

Final Score: No. 13 University of Tampa Spartans 78, University of Wisconsin-Parkside Rangers 66

Records: Tampa (11-2), Wisconsin-Parkside (5-6)

Location: South Point Arena || Las Vegas, Nevada

All-Time Series: This marks the second game between the two sides, as Tampa evens the all-time series 1-1 with the win today. 

HOW IT HAPPENED 

1st QUARTER 

Dori Nagy would start off the Holiday Hoops Classic for the Spartans by getting sent to the charity stripe and knocking down one of her two free throws. Both teams would go back and forth in this quarter, but the main difference would be the late 6-0 run with four minutes remaining in the quarter. The run would be started by a contested layup from LaShayla Wright-Ponder, the end of the run would make it 13-7 in favor of the Spartans. That would be the main difference in the quarter as it would be a close contest between both teams. Melijah Sullivan would end the scoring in the quarter with a driving layup with two minutes remaining in the game. Score: Tampa 18-14

2nd QUARTER 

Sullivan would open the second with a layup assisted by Nagy,  Parkside would take advantage of the Spartans poor shooting percentage in this quarter, with the Rangers outshooting the Spartans with a 60 percent shooting percentage compared to Tampas' 46.2 percent in the quarter. Late in the quarter the Rangers would pull away with two minutes left in the half, going on a 8-0 run to take the lead from the Spartans and make it 36-30, with the last action from the Spartans being a Wright-Ponder assisted layup from Mya Giusto. Parkside would score once more before the end of the half, as Parkside's bench would be the difference, outshooting Tampa 14-1 in this quarter. Score: Parkside 38-32

3rd QUARTER 

The Spartans would start the half guns blazing, starting with an unbelievable 14-0 run to kick things off. Aliyah Abney would score seven of the 14 points during the run for the Spartans, Abney would continue to light up the court as she tacked on seven more before the end of the quarter along with 80 percent shooting from the field. Wright-Ponder was a bright spot for the Spartans as well, shooting perfect from the field with nine points to her name inside the third. The points off turnovers would be the big difference as Tampa would go on to score eight off of Parksides' six turnovers in the quarter. Score: 61-50 Tampa

4th QUARTER 

Tampa would comfortably be in control of the lead through the quarter as Parkside could not seem to find a way back into this game. Nagy would open the scoring for the Spartans right before Wright-Ponder and Abney would help the Spartans go on a 6-0 run to end the Rangers hopes of coming back into the game. Sullivan would hit a jumper inside of the paint to complete the game for the Spartans. Score: 78-66 Tampa

INSIDE THE STATS 

• Wright-Ponder would score a season-high 25 points to go along with her double-double of 25 points and game-high 11 rebounds.

• Two Spartans would record 20 plus points tonight Wight-Ponder (25) and Abney (23).

• Tampa would outscore Parkside in the paint 44-32.

BEYOND THE BOX 

• Today's win marks the tenth straight win for the Spartans

NEXT UP: The Spartans will end the Holiday Hoops Classic with their game against Southern Indiana at South Point Arena on December 19th at 3:00 PM.

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