Abney, Sullivan Combine for 40 Points as Tampa Upsets No. 12 Eckerd

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The University of Tampa women's basketball team battled to upset the 12th ranked Eckerd Tritons on the road.

Final: No. 18 Tampa Spartans 67, No. 12 Eckerd Tritons 56

Records: University of Tampa (20-4, SSC 11-2), Eckerd College (14-2 SSC 10-4)

Location: McArthur Center || St. Petersburg, Fla. 

All-Time Series: The Spartans have a sizeable lead over the Tritons, leading the series 80-20.

HOW IT HAPPENED 

First Quarter: The Spartans opened up the scoring for the first quarter, with Melijah Sullivan finding the back of the net. The Spartans offense got started early, scoring four unanswered points early in the game. About halfway through the first quarter, the Spartans held a two-point lead. The Tritons tied the score, and the Spartans defense was put to work. With just under a minute left in the first quarter, the Spartans had a two-point lead once again. With great efforts from both teams, the score remained tied at the end of the quarter. || Score: 20-20 Tie

Second Quarter: The second quarter began with the Tritons offense rolling. The Spartans found their rhythm though, and tied the score early in the second quarter. With just under four minutes left in the first half of the game, the Spartans needed to make up five points. With some adjustments, the Spartans came back and had a one-point lead. Eleanore Marciszewski tied the game at 34 with just under two minutes remaining in the half. Despite the Spartans great play on both sides of the ball, the Tritons led by two points heading into the half. || 36-34 Eckerd

Third Quarter: The third quarter began with a defensive battle between the two teams. Sullivan opened the scoring for the Spartans again in this quarter, tying the score at 36. Dori Nagy scored and helped the Spartans gain the lead about halfway into the quarter. The Tritons tied the score soon after the Spartans gained the lead. The Spartans built a six-point lead with two minutes left to play in the quarter, behind Kayla Bonilla's scoring efforts. Behind a few turnovers by the Tritons, the Spartans offense capitalized on the opportunity and earned a seven-point lead headed into the final quarter. II Score 50-43 Tampa

Fourth Quarter: The fourth quarter began similarly to the second, with the Tritons scoring first. The Spartans continued to score points but, the Tritons were finding ways to score also. The Spartans offense started to roll, going 7-0 for just over two minutes. The Spartans defense held the Tritons scoreless over about three minutes in the quarter. The Spartans proved too much for the Tritons in the second half, and earned the win in St. Pete. II Final: 67-56 Tampa

INSIDE THE STATS 

BEYOND THE BOX 

UP NEXT: The Spartans return home on Saturday to take on Embry-Riddle University at 2:00p.m.

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