SAINT LEO, Fla. – Bucketing four three-point field goals, Brittany Carannante erupted for a career-high 28 points as the Saint Leo women’s basketball team (8-9, 1-6 SSC) upset rival Eckerd College (10-6, 4-3 SSC), 59-50, Wednesday evening from the Marion Bowman Activities Center in Sunshine State Conference action.
The win is the first of the season for the Lions in conference play, while also snapping a five game losing streak.
In addition to Carannante’s 28 points, she led the team in steals and assists with three. Chelsea Williams chipped in eight points, while Chanele Patton hauled in a team-best 10 boards.
Aside from Carannante’s hot shooting, free throws proved to be the difference as Saint Leo connected on 20-of-26 attempts compared to just 10 makes on the Eckerd side.
Out of the gate, Carannante put the Lions on her shoulders as her pinpoint perimeter shooting saw the Lions gain an early 15-13 lead behind three, three-pointers. The senior expanded the Lions’ lead to a first half high six when she connected on a pair of free throws with 10:31 left to play.
The Tritons soon answered the Lions’ challenge as they ran off seven consecutive points to gain a 20-19 lead with 6:20 remaining. From there, the two teams exchanged baskets and the lead for the next five minutes until the Tritons’ Rauseberg hit a three-point field goal to solidify a four point advantage and eventually go into the break up two, 26-24.
Out of halftime, the Tritons took advantage of the first five minutes as they established a six point lead on the backing of two consecutive layups.
Still, Saint Leo refused to back down as Artigua Kilpatrick highlighted a 7-2 run with a layup at 14:40 to give the Lions a one point, 33-32, lead.
Over the next four minutes, the game featured four lead changes and four ties, but with the visitor’s owning a two-point lead going into the final 10 minutes of the game. Shortly after, Rauseberg struck again with a three pointer, putting the Lions on their heels as they found themselves down five.
Nonetheless, Carannante and the rest of the crew were not fazed as the Clearwater, Fla. native sparked a 10-0 run with a layup at the 9:01 mark. She closed the streak three minutes later when she hit on her fourth and final three-pointer of the night to give the Lions a five point lead with 6:28 to play.
After a Lauren Lee’s basket pushed the lead to seven, the Tritons made one final run as they closed the gap to three, 53-50, with 2:45 to play.
Fortunately for the Lions’ faithful, six straight free throw makes over the final two minutes iced the the game for the Green & Gold, while lockdown defense didn’t allow Eckerd to post a single point over the final 2:45.
The Lions out-rebounded the Tritons, 42-37, and forced Eckerd into 20 turnovers.
Saint Leo will take a break from SSC action to take on in-region opponent Palm Beach Atlantic this Saturday, January 22 from the Marion Bowman Activities Center. Tip-off is set for 2:00 p.m.
