
Piller Named SSC P.O.T.W, Spartans at #15 in Latest WBCA Coaches Poll
Tampa, Fla - After sweeping the first two games of SSC play last week, the University of Tampa's Women's Basketball team was hit with two big announcements. The Spartans defeated Florida Southern (84-78) and Saint Leo (70-54) to start 2-0 in Sunshine State Conference play. The team currently sits at 8-2 on the year and the 2-0 start in SSC play has them tied for second place in the conference regular season standings.
The first big news of the week was Zoe Piller being named the Sunshine State Conference Player Of The Week for her outstanding efforts in both wins last week. This is the second time this season the Brentwood, Tennessee native has earned this award and her fourth since joining the Spartans last season. Against Florida Southern, Zoe Piller was the defesive key to closing out a gritty win over the Mocs while aslo recording eight points, seven rebounds, and a steal. However, against Saint Leo, Piller was noting short of dominant. The Senior scored half of the Spartans total points (35) by going 15-18 from the field, puting herself at ninth in the SSC record books for field goals made in a game. She did this while also snagging nine boards, one steal, one block, and recording an assist. On the week, Piller recorded 43 points on an insane 73% effeciancy from the field (91% from the line) and averaged eight boards. While the Spartans as a team were firing on all cylanders last week, Piller was undoubtably the best player on the floor.
In other team news, the Spartans moved up two spots from #17 to #15 in the latest WBCA Coaches Poll. Tampa Women's Basketball has now been nationally ranked for 60 straight weeks. The team moved up two spots after going 2-0 last week defeating strong conference openets. The Spartans currently have a top 20 socrer in the nation (Piller), a top 5 assist producer in the nation (Ramsey), and as a team are 11th in the nation in overall filed goald percentage (47%). This team has an electric mix of experienced players leading the way and new faces making big impacts, look for Tampa to continue to climb as conference play continues to heat up.
Fans can catch the SSC Player Of The Week Zoe Piller and the entrie #15 ranked Spartan squad at the Bob Martinez Center this Saturday. Tampa Women's Basketball will face SSC openenet Lynn University at 2:00pm, followed by the Tampa versus Lynn Men's Basketball game shortly after.