Rodriguez Drops 24, Piller Records Double-Double In OT Win Over FIT

Melbourne, Fla. – The University of Tampa Women's Basketball was back on the east coast of Florida this evening for another Sunshine State Conference battle. The Spartans traveled to face Florida Tech with an opportunity to complete the regular season sweep. With only three games left in the regular season for the Spartans, winning out locks up the No. 2 seed in the SSC Tournament with a chance to catch the No. 1 seed. 

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:

Final Score: #23 Tampa 69, Florida Tech 68

Records: #23 Tampa 23-5 (15-3 SSC), Florida Tech 10-14 (5-12 SSC)

Location: Charles and Ruth Clemente Center l Melbourne, Fla.

All-time series: This was the 85th meeting between these two programs. With the win, Tampa leads the all-time series 50-35. 

HOW IT HAPPENED: 

FIRST HALF:  After an opening tip that ended in a Florida Tech turnover, the Spartans got right to work. Olivia Davis opened the game with a corner three and Sariana Rodriguez followed that up with a three ball of her own. The Panthers of Florida Tech also hit back to back three point shots and after a minute of play, this contest was tied 6-6. Sariana Rodriguez found herself wide open for another three before the Spartans defense finally got a stop. They forced an ugly shot at the end of the shot clock and were rewarded with a Zoe Piller layup. This 5-0 run gave Tampa their first multi possession lead at 11-6. Audrey Ramsey added to the offensive explosion with a deep three to give the Spartans 14 points before the five minute mark. Florida Tech converted free throws and a layup but Tampa was in full control to start this game. Zoe Piller and Kath Van Bennekom knocked down free throws to extend the Tampa lead out to six with under three minutes to play. Florida Tech attempted to answer with a small run but Kath Van Bennekom shut it down with a big three. The Panthers got a floater to go before the buzzer and after a point heavy first quarter, Tampa led 21-18. To start the second quarter, Florida Tech got out and running, making a layup in transition to pull within one point. Vivianne Jende gave the Spartans their first made basket of the quarter with a nice rip through and finish at the rim. Florida Tech continued to make shots and after a Tampa cold stretch, tied the game at 24. Zoe Piller put the Spartans back up with an easy finish at the rim but the Panthers did not go away. They hit back to back jumpers to take their first lead of the game at 27-26 with under five minutes left in the half. The Panthers hit another basket but Giorgia Palmieri hit a huge three to tie the game up at 29. On Tampa's next possession, Sariana Rodriguez crossed up her defender to get the rim for a clean finish and a 31-29 lead. As the first half entered the final two minutes, Florida Tech hit back to back shots around the rim to retake the lead. With under 40 seconds, Zoe Piller hit a free throw but the Panthers held on to a one point lead as the game reached halftime. 

Score: #23 Tampa 32, Florida Tech 33

SECOND HALF: Despite being down at the half, the Spartans were knocking down shots at an elite 50% clip. They just needed to keep up the offensive intensity and start settling into their defense. After opening the half with two straight defensive stops, Florida Tech was able to convert a putback layup to push the lead to three points. Zoe Piller answered with a pair of free throws but the Panthers hit back to back jumpers (one from three) to push their lead out to 40-34. Zoe Piller again answered with a three point play, finishing through contact at the rim and sinking the and-one. Tampa was able to get a few stops and bunches and retook the lead by the two minute mark of the third quarter. Zoe Piller started out half hot and stayed hot the entire quarter. With the help of another Sariana Rodriguez corner three, Piller dropped nine points to help the Spartans gain control of this contest. After tying the game up at 42, Piller and Giorgia Palmieri hit back to back layups to give Tampa a multi-possession lead with only a minute and half left in the third. Both teams traded jumpers and the Spartans took a 48-44 lead into the final ten minutes. To start the fourth quarter, Zoe Piller snagged her 10th rebound of the game giving her a double-double well before the final buzzer. Giorgia Palmieri got the scoring going in the fourth for the Spartans, using her elite quickness to get to the rim for an easy lay. Florida tech answered with a quick 6-0 and this contest was tied at 50 with seven minutes to go. Zoe Piller broke the tie with a free throw but Florida Tech hit a huge three to take back the lead. Sariana Rodriguez responded with a smooth jumper from the elbow and once again, the scoreline was tied, 53-53. As the fourth quarter crossed into the final five minutes, Florida Tech hit another jumper to put them up by two until Giorgia Palmieri hit the Panthers right back with a jumper of her own. With under three minutes to go and the Panthers up by 57-55, Zoe Piller tied the game up with a layup after her and Sariana Rodriguez executed a pick and roll to perfection. Both teams traded baskets to make the score 59-59 with under a minute to go in regulation. Neither team was able to find a basket in the final minute of the fourth quarter and we had free basketball in Melbourne. 

END OF REGULATION: #23 Tampa 59, Florida Tech 59

OVERTIME: To start the overtime period, the Spartans forced a miss shot and quickly turned that stop into points. Giorgia Palmieri gave Tampa a 62-59 lead with a free throw and a basket. Sariana Rodriguez followed that up with a steal and kickout to Olivia Davis for the biggest three of the night. Just like how she started the game, Davis drilled a three from the corner to give Tampa a 65-59 lead with just over three minutes to play. The Spartans took this momentum and ran with it, Zoe Piller drew a charge to end a Panther possession and the defense as a whole did not allow a made field goal until 2:02 left in OT. Tampa was unable to add to those six early points and with a minute and half to go, only led 65-63. This was until Giorgia Palmieri gave the Spartans some separation with a layup to make the scoreline 67-63. Florida Tech answered with a three point play to pull within one with under a minute to go. After a Spartan miss, the Panthers got a runner to fall and took their first lead of overtime at 68-67 with 18.7 on the clock. With the clock running down, Sariana Rodriguez was clutch again for the Spartans, finishing a lay through contact to put Tampa back up one with 6.5 seconds left in OT. Florida Tech was unable to get a shot off in the final seconds and the Spartans came away with another clutch win. 

FINAL: #23 Tampa 69, Florida Tech  68

INSIDE THE STATS:

• Sariana Rodriguez drops 23 points including the game winning basket 

• Zoe Piller records 18 point, 11 rebound double-double 

• Freshman Giorgia Palmieri sets career high with 12 points 

UP NEXT: The Spartans will stay out on the road for the last regular season road game of the year. Tampa will face Palm Beach Atlantic on Saturday, February 22, with tip-off scheduled for 2:00pm.   

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