Rodriguez Game Winner Propels Spartans Over Rival Mocs

Lakeland, Fla. – The University of Tampa Women's Basketball team took a short bus ride this afternoon for a Sunshine State Conference matchup with Florida Southern. Both teams come into this rivalry game riding win streaks of three wins or more (Tampa - 4W) and looking to continue climbing the SSC standings. The Spartans also enter this contest just a single game out of the number one seed and wanting to keep the pressure on current one seed Embry-Riddle. 

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:

Final Score: #23 Tampa 64, Florida Southern 63

Records: #23 Tampa 18-4 (10-2 SSC), Florida Southern 10-9 (5-7 SSC) 

Location: George W. Jenkins Field House l Lakeland, Fla. 

All-time Series: This was the 113th meeting all-time between these two programs. Florida Southern still leads the series 65-48. 

HOW IT HAPPENED: 

FIRST HALF: To start out this contest, both teams hit their first shots of the game. Zoe Piller got the scoring going for the Spartans with a smooth finish off the glass but it was rough sledding from there. A combination of great defense and physical play from both the Mocs and Spartans led to this contest being tied 2-2 until the five and half minute mark. Olivia Davis ended what was a four minute drought with both teams with a three from the wing. Florida Southern answered with a bucket, but Marissa McDonald hit a jumper in response and back and forth both teams went. After a slow start, this rivalry contest was knotted at 9-9 with just two minutes left in the first quarter. Florida Southern broke the tie with back to back huge three's to take their first lead of the game. Sariana Rodriguez answered with a good move on the baseline for an easy lay but the Mocs again hit a deep three and went into the second quarter up 18-11. Down seven, the Spartans were in no panic. They continued to run their offense against the Florida Southern press and let Zoe Piller go to work. She bullied her defender for a finish at the rim and after receiving a double team, found her teammate McDonald for a three-point play to cut the lead to four. Both teams traded free throws and jumpers so while the Spartans were unable to cut into the lead, they did not allow the Mocs to extend it. With three minutes to play in the first half, Kath Van Bennekom and Audrey Ramsey hit free throws to pull the scoreline to 28-23 Mocs. After cutting the lead to five, Marissa McDonald and Audrey Ramsey both hit huge jumpers in the final minute and the Spartans went into the half only down one. The Spartans were able to claw all the way back due to their elite defense. They held Florida Southern scoreless in the final minutes of the second quarter and as a whole, the Mocs shot just 4-13 from the field. 

Score: #23 Tampa 27, Florida Southern 28

SECOND HALF: After a huge defensive second quarter, the Spartans were looking to roll that over into the third. They opened the second half of play with back to back stops and turned those into points on the other end. The Spartans re-took the in just the first minute of the half but the Mocs would not go away that easy. Florida Southern responded with buckets of their own and again, back and forth these teams went. With the Spartans up 33-32, Audrey Ramsey started to take over this game. She anchored the Spartan defense and used her elite quickness to evade the Florida Southern press. She had three assists and two steals before the five minute mark in the third quarter to help Tampa extend the lead to 40-32. In a rivalry game with as much intensity as this one, neither team was going to back down. The Mocs rallied back and cut the lead to four by the two minute mark but a Sariana Rodriguez three pointer extended the lead out to 47-40, Tampa. Florida Southern would take advantage of a two for one opportunity at the end of the quarter but the Spartans took a 49-44 lead into the final ten minutes. The final quarter of play picked up right where the third left off. After tampa forced a Mocs turnover, they were able to convert that into a bucket on the other end. However, Florida Southern answered with yet another three to keep themselves in striking distance. After some back and forth, the Mocs went on a tiny run and tied the game up at 53. Tampa responded with a Kath Van Bannekom jumper to retake the lead with six to go. With under five to go, Olivia Davis was able to swing the momentum back to Tampa by putting her body on the line and drawing a charge to force a Mocs turnover. Tampa was unable to convert that turnover into points and Florida Southern found an easy basket to retake the lead at 56-55. After a Zoe Piller hook shot, the Mocs hit their 10th three pointer of the game and took a 61-59 lead with two minutes left. Tampa was able to force back to back stops before Olivia Davis drilled a three to take the lead 62-61 with 35 seconds left in the game. Florida Southern ran a set play to perfection and got a layup to retake the lead with 18 seconds left, leaving Tampa with the last shot. With 3.2 seconds on the clock, Sariana Rodriguez drove to the baseline and rose up for a fade away jumper and the win. Rodriguez's game winner gives Tampa their 10th win in conference play and another huge boost of confidence as they head into the final stretch of the season.

Final: #23 Tampa 64, Florida Southern 63

INSIDE THE STATS:

• Audrey Ramsey set career high with 11 assists 

• Marissa McDonald drops 19 for her second straight 15+ point game

• Tampa has now won five straight Sunshine State Conference games 

UP NEXT: The Spartans will be on the road this Saturday, Febuary 1st to face Lynn Universty. This SSC contest is slated to tip at 2:00pm in Boca Raton. The Spartans will be hungry for thier 6th straight conference win before coming home to the Bob for a rematch with nationally ranked Nova Southeastern. 

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