Palmieri Sets Career High, Spartans End Regular Season With 25 Wins

Tampa, Fla. – The University of Tampa Women's Basketball team finished up the regular season tonight at the Bob Martinez Center. The Spartans hosted Barry University with a chance to complete the regular season sweep of the Buccaneers. Tampa knew they could complete this challenge and end the regular season on a high note by playing tough team defense and taking advantage of their of strengths. 

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:

Final Score: #23 Tampa 68, Barry 42

Records: #23 Tampa 25-5 (17-3 SSC), Barry 18-9 (11-8 SSC)

Location: Bob Martinez Center l Tampa, Fla.

All-time series: This was the 85th meeting between these two programs. With the win, Tampa leads the all-time series 60-25. 

HOW IT HAPPENED: 

FIRST HALF:  The first quarter was worth the price of admission by itself. After both teams began the game with defensive stops, Barry drilled a three to get the scoring going. Sariana Rodriguez hit a turnaround floater in response and both sides went back and forth trading baskets. By the two minute mark of the first half, Barry held what would be their last lead of the game at 11-10 before Kath Van Bennekom put the Spartans in front. The Senior sinked a pair of free throws before hitting a layup with under 12 seconds left in the quarter. After a battle in the first quarter, Tampa led 14-13 but knew they were a few stops away from enlarging the lead. After both squads traded baskets to open the final 10 minutes of the first half , Tampa found their first big run of the game. They held Barry scoreless for over four minutes and scored nine unanswered points to take a 29-18 lead with under three minutes to go. Zoe Piller and Giorgia Palmieri led the way for Tampa and ended the half on made baskets. Piller used her elite touch at the rim for a finish on the lower blocks while Palmieri used a Marissa McDonald screen to find separation and knock down a three. Despite a Barry three, these points plus an Olivia Davis three helped the Spartans take a double digit lead into the break. 

Score: #23 Tampa 33, Barry 21

SECOND HALF: To start the second half of action, the Tampa defense kept up their strong effort by holding Barry without a point for the first few minutes. During this cold spell, Giorgia Palmieri hit a step back three to regain full control of this contest early in the second half. Barry finally started hitting shots but the damage had been done. Audrey Ramsey and Kath Van Bennekom hit back to back jumpers and Zoe Piller ws dominating downlow to give Tampa a 54-30 lead by the end of the third quarter. With only ten minutes remaining and a 20+ point lead, the Spartans just wanted to close out this game without giving their opponents any momentum. The defense continued to put pressure on the Barry shooters and did not allow back to back makes for the first six minutes of the fourth quarter. Giorgia Palmieri continued her exceptional day by setting a career high 14 points, using her quickness to blow by her defender for an easy finish. Kath Van Bennekom, Olivia Davis, Zoe Piller, and Vivianne Jende all hit shots in the fourth to keep up the offensive intensity and finish the game strong for Tampa. In what was utter domination from the Spartans, they finished the regular season with a 26 point win and a lot of confidence going into the SSC Tournament. 

FINAL: #23 Tampa 68, Barry 42

INSIDE THE STATS:

• Nine Spartans recorded a point in tonight's win 

• Tampa as team shot an elite 56% from the floor 

• Spartan defense finished the regular season holding their 10th opponent to under 52 total points

UP NEXT: The Spartans finish the regular season with a record of 25-5, going 17-3 in conference play. The program was ranked the entire year for a third straight season and clinched in #2 seed in the Sunshine State Conference Tournament. The Spartans will host the first round of the SSC Tournament on March 4th at either 5:00pm or 7:00pm. Tampa will have to wait until this Sunday to find out their opponent for the first round. 

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