Tampa Concludes Record Season at NCAA Quarterfinals

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – The No. 4 University of Tampa women's basketball team suffered a 78-68 loss to defending national champion Glenville State University at the 2023 NCAA Division II Elite Eight.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP

Final Score: No. 5 Glenville State University Pioneers 78, No. 4 University of Tampa Spartans 68

Records: Tampa (33-2), Glenville State (33-2)

Location: St. Joseph Civic Arena | St. Joseph, Mo.

All-Time Series: This was just the second-ever meeting between the two schools, and first since an 83-65 Tampa victory in 2001.

HOW IT HAPPENED

1st QUARTER

The Spartans picked up where they left off at the NCAA South Regional, controlling the tempo in the opening 10 minutes. Sarah Jones opemned the scoring with a 3-pointer as Tampa raced out to a 9-0 lead behind five points and two steals from Jones. The Spartans would grab their first double-digit lead of the evening on a pair of Jones free throws to lead 19-9 with 1:17 remaining in the quarter. Sydney Kin led the Spartans with eight points while Jones added seven points and three steals. Score: 19-13 (Tampa)

2nd QUARTER

Tampa carried the lead for the entire second quarter, though Glenville chipped away to come within two points with 7:40 to play in the half at 25-23. UT continued to have an answer when the Pioneers got close, though Glenville closed the half on a 5-0 run to cut the margin to just one point at the break. After shooting just 26.1 percent from the field in the opening quarter, Glenville shot 50 percent in the second. Kin would enter the break with 15 points while Melijah Sullivan had 12 on a perfect 6-6 shooting from the floor.  Score: 35-34 (Tampa)

3rd QUARTER

The game remained close as the defending champs continued to pressure the Spartans. The Pioneers also found their shooting touch, hitting four 3-pointers in the third quarter. They also forced six Tampa turnovers. Glenville would take its first lead of the content with 8:44 to play in the third, going up 39-37. The advantage would be brief, with the Spartans going on a 5-0 run to regain the led. Tampa went up 49-44 with 4:51 on the clock to mark its largest lead of the third. A pair of 3-pointersx from the Pioneers and a second-chance jumper inside the final minute allowed GSU to go up two heading to the fourth. Score: 54-52 (Glenville)

4th QUARTER

The swarming Pioneer defense continued to wear down the Spartans, who had four players without a break heading into the fourth quarter as just six Spartans saw the floor when the quarter began. GSU would force eight Spartans turnovers, while only committing two of its own. The Spartans did shoot 60 percent from the field in the fourth, making both 3-poiunt attempts. Glenville was able to break away in the final minutes as it outrebounded UT 11-4 in the quarter. GSU would outscore the Spartans 13-5 in the final five minutes to seal the victory. Score: 78-68 (Glenville)

INSIDE THE STATS

• Melijah Sullivan led all Spartans with 23 points on 11-13 shooting.
• Sydney Kin netted 20 points and 11 rebounds, good for her 22nd double-double of the season and 55th in her career.
• Sarah Jones scored 15 points and added four assists and three steals.
• Adding eight points was Audrey Ramsey, as she made two 3-pointers.

BEYOND THE BOX

• Tampa concludes the 2022-23 season with a program-best 33 wins.
• Advancing to the NCAA Elite Eight, this was the first time in program history that UT won the regional and played in the national quarterfinals.
• The Spartans entered the game riding a 22-game winning streak.
• Sullivan concludes her Spartan career with 1,653 career points to rank third in program history.
• Kin, a graduate transfer from Findlay, scored 2,294 career pooints with 1,185 rebounds.