Survive and Advance for the No.12 Spartans

TAMPA, FL – The No. 12 Tampa Spartans outlasted Palm Beach Atlantic in the Quarterfinals of the 2024 SSC Tournament.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP

Final Score: No. 12 University of Tampa Spartans 71, Palm Beach Atlantic Sailfish 64

Records: Tampa (26-5, 17-3 SSC), Palm Beach Atlantic (15-13, 9-11 SSC)

Location: Bob Martinez Athletic Center | Tampa, FL

HOW IT HAPPENED

1st QUARTER

Both teams kept things close in an exciting first quarter. Sarah Jones opened the scoring with a corner three, but the Sailfish and the Spartans would soon trade baskets until the first timeout of the game taken by Tampa head coach Tom Jessee with 7:25 left to play as PBA led by a point. The score remained close as both teams displayed good free throw shooting and made some tough layups. The Spartans began to separate themselves when Jones knocked down her second three-pointer of the game, kickstarting a 9-0 run to put Tampa up 23-14 with just under two minutes to play. Three foul shots made by Mya Giusto helped Tampa maintain a sizeable lead after 10 minutes of action. Score: 26-18 Tampa

2nd QUARTER

The second quarter saw more defense than the first, but Giusto was able to take over. She scored six of Tampa's 12 points in the frame, with other contributions coming from Audra Leipold, Marissa McDonald, and Audrey Ramsey. The Sailfish ended the half with some momentum as Kash Ayuso made a deep three-pointer at the buzzer. Score: 38-33 Tampa

3rd QUARTER

Tampa got off to a hot start, with Ramsey hitting a three-pointer on the first possession of the second half. The Spartans tallied a 9-0 run to begin the third quarter to grant themselves a 14-point advantage as the Sailfish were held scoreless through the first five minutes of the half. PBA played a much stronger brand of basketball at the end of the quarter, cutting the lead to seven at the sound of the buzzer. Score: 51-44 Tampa

4th QUARTER

The fourth quarter was played evenly, but Tampa needed to navigate foul trouble as Giusto and Zoe Piller each picked up their fourth foul early. After Jessee called timeout with 7:30 to play, he opted to keep both starters in the game up eight points. Other contributors kept Tampa's ship upright, including another Jones three to put the Spartans up by double-digits with under six minutes to go. Palm Beach Atlantic would hang in the game, even cutting the deficit to five with a minute to play. In the end, Tampa did enough at the foul line and defensively to secure the win.  Final: 71-64 Tampa

INSIDE THE STATS

• Giusto led all scorers and matched her season-high with 26 points, with help from her 93% success rate from the free throw line (14-15)
• Jones buried 3 of the team's 5 three-pointers, scoring 11 points in total
• Piller put up 14 points and led Tampa with 7 rebounds

BEYOND THE BOX

• PBA out-rebounded Tampa 23-2 on the offensive glass but shot just 28% from the field compared to Tampa's 42% mark

NEXT UP: Tampa advances to the next round of the SSC Championship Tournament to compete against Embry-Riddle on Thursday, March 7 at 7:00 p.m.