Eckerd Prevails in Matchup of Ranked, Undefeated SSC Teams

TAMPA, Fla. – The No. 13 University of Tampa women's basketball fall short in a nail-biter as they returned to Sunshine State Conference play back up against the Eckerd College Tritons. The matchup featured a pair of ranked teams and the top clubs in the SSC.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP 

Final Score: No. 23 Eckerd College Tritons 51, No. 12 University of Tampa Spartans 50

Records: Tampa (12-3, 3-1 SSC), Eckerd (9-0, 5-0 SSC)

Location: Bob Martinez Athletics Center || Tampa, Florida

All-Time Series: This marked the 100th meeting between the two teams, despite the loss Tampa still leads the series 80-20.

HOW IT HAPPENED 

1st QUARTER 

Things would start off well for Tampa as Aliyah Abney would get things started off with a contested layup, both teams would go back and forth to start off the first. A 7-0 run started by Eckerd to make the scoring affair 9-4 would be the main difference in this quarter, which would not carry much action. Tampa would crawl their way back throughout the quarter with Abney leading the way for the Spartans with six of her own. Score: 17-13 Eckerd

2nd QUARTER 

Things would start to get rough for the Spartans heading into the second, Eckerd would take advantage of Tampas' poor shooting ability to start off the quarter with yet another 7-0 run. Tampa would only make two field goals throughout the entire quarter, with one coming from yet another jump shot from Abney. Before the Tritons would end the quarter on an 8-0 run to end the half. Tampa would shoot a horrid 18.2 percent from the field compared to Eckerds' 53.8 percent. Eckerd would make the same amount of three-point shots as Tampa would make shots in the first half. Score: 36-20 Eckerd 

3rd QUARTER 

Tampa would come out hot to start the second half, coming out with a 7-0 run of their own to make the score 36-27. Kayla Bonilla would come alive in the quarter getting the momentum going for the Spartans with a hard contested layup as 2:19 would remain in the quarter. The Spartans would dig deep and outshoot the Tritons as they cut the score to just six, as Tampa would end the quarter on an 8-3 run. Score: 43-37 Eckerd

4th QUARTER 

Tampa would do everything it could to get back in this game with Abney making a jump on the play as she gathered a steal and a layup on the first break to make it 43-41 and put Tampa back within one score. The rest of the quarter would be players on both teams looking to see who would be that player to step up. A pair of free throws would put the Tritons up 51-48. The next possession, a Melijah Sullivan jumper, would put the score to 51-50. As Eckerd could seal the game with a score of their own, a missed three-point shot would give the Spartans the ball with 22 seconds left and no shot clock. Abney would call her number, as she called for a screen from LaShayla Wright-Ponder on the left side of the perimeter. She drives to the right side and settles for a jumper right above the free-throw line. As the shot rattled out, so did the Spartans hopes of winning. Score: 51-50 Eckerd

INSIDE THE STATS 

• Abney would lead the Spartans in scoring with 16

• Four Spartans would record double digits, including Abney (16), Sullivan (13), Bonilla (11) and Wright-Ponder (10)

• Despite the loss, Tampa would outscore Eckerd 24-16 inside the paint

BEYOND THE BOX 

• This loss breaks the Spartans 11-game win streak and undefeated Sunshine State Conference mark.

NEXT UP: The Spartans return back to Bob Martinez as they take on Palm Beach Atlantic on January 2 at 2:00 p.m.

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