Spartans Return to Win Column With 21-Point Win Over PBA

TAMPA, Fla. – The No. 12 University of Tampa women's basketball got back on track with a comfortable win against conference opponent Palm Beach Atlantic University.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP 

Final Score: No. 12 University of Tampa Spartans 80, Palm Beach Atlantic University Sailfish, 59

Records: Tampa (13-3, 4-1 SSC), Palm Beach Atlantic (4-9, 1-5 SSC)

Location: Bob Martinez Athletics Center || Tampa, Florida

All-Time Series: This becomes the 32nd meeting between these two sides, the Spartans win increases their series lead 29-3 with this also being their 11th straight win over the Sailfish

HOW IT HAPPENED 

1st QUARTER 

LaShayla Wright-Ponder would get things started off for the Spartans with a nice layup inside the paint, everything would be balanced in the quarter with both teams going back and forth exchanging shots until. Tampa would be up 10-9. As the two-minute mark hit, Tampa would start to heat things up and take a commanding lead after ending the quarter on the 12-4 run with Aliyah Abney hitting a jump shot to end the quarter. Putting the Spartans up eight after the first. Score: 21-13 Tampa

2nd QUARTER 

Things would get started with a pair of free throws being made by Palm Beach Atlantic, shortly after Abney would hit a jumper from inside 20 feet to make the score 23-15 early in the second. Tampa would consistently hit their shots during the second quarter as they would shoot a phenomenal 69.2 percent from the field and go 2/3 from three-point range. Palm Beach Atlantics' 26.7 shooting percentage would not be able to fare against the Spartans incredible shooting performance in the quarter. Wright-Ponder would lead the team this quarter with eight points of her own, one of her layups would start an 8-0 run for the Spartans as they would keep their commanding lead to end the half. Score: 45-27 Tampa

3rd QUARTER 

Tampa would start the half on cruise control as they would set the pace of the game, the main part of action for the Spartans would be a very impressive 11-0 run that would be started by Erin Antosh converting a layup and a free throw to add to her name. Turnovers would be a part of the Spartans game that they took advantage of Palm Beach Atlantic's five turnovers as they would score eight points off of those turnovers. A shooting foul would send Kayla Bonilla to the charity stripe as she tacked on two more for the Spartans to end the quarter.

4th QUARTER 

It would be a whole lot of the same as it had been in this second half for the Spartans, even though the Spartans would not shoot terrific in this quarter with a 33.3 shooting percentage. It still would outmatch the Sailfishes' 28.6 percent from the field. Both teams would go on their respective runs to end the quarter and the game with the Sailfish hitting a jump shot and hitting a pair of free throws to end the game. Score: 80-59 Tampa

INSIDE THE STATS 

• Two Tampa players would have over a 20 plus-minus Delano (25) and Sullivan (21)

• Three Spartans would record double digits Abney (15), Sullivan (14), and Wright-Ponder (14)

• The Spartans would outscore the Sailfish 30-22 inside the paint

BEYOND THE BOX 

• Sullivan now nears the 1,000 point club with the Spartans as she now has collected 924 career points for the University

NEXT UP: The Spartans will start off a two-game road trip as they will travel to Saint Leo to take on the Lions on January 5th at 5:30 PM

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