SAINT LEO, Fla. – Despite overcoming a 13-point halftime deficit, the Saint Leo women’s basketball team (9-11, 1-8 SSC) could not muster enough offense in the late stages of the game as they fell to conference foe Florida Tech (18-3, 7-2 SSC), 59-49, Saturday afternoon from the Marion Bowman Activities Center.
The Sunshine State Conference game featured a trio of double-digit scorers for the Green & Gold, including Jamarra Robinson as she posted her first career double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Lauren Lee topped all Lions’ scorers with 14 points, while Chelsea Williams bucketed 13 points on 4-of-7 shooting.
Turnovers keyed the Panthers’ 10-point win as 26 Saint Leo turnovers were converted in 27 points.
Out of the gate, both the Lions and the Panthers got off to fluid starts as they used the first 6:49 to score a combine 23 points. An Alyssa Viscomi three-pointer, coupled with one of Williams five free throw conversions, gave Saint Leo a 12-11 lead going into the final 12 minutes of the half.
However, turnover difficulties resulted in the Lions’ offense going cold over the next nine minutes, as the Panthers held the Green & Gold scoreless until the 4:37 mark. During this stretch, Florida Tech managed to gain control of the game and build a 16-point, 28-12 lead.
Still, the team refused to be discouraged as Lee and Robinson responded with six-straight Lions’ points to cut the lead back to 10. Unfortunately, back-to-back baskets by Kristen Dixon helped the Panthers to a 13-point lead going into halftime.
The Panthers soon faced a dose of their own medicine at the beginning of the second half, however. A rejuvenated Lions’ bunch began to creep into the Florida Tech lead thanks in part to dominant interior play. The inside duo of Lee and Williams combined for 12 of the Lions next 16 points as Saint Leo fought to tie the game at 35 apiece with 12 minutes left to play.
Just as it appeared Saint Leo was poised to take the lead, Tech found its second wind. The visitor’s staged the game’s most important run as they scored 11 straight points in a two and a half minute span to take a 46-35 lead.
Despite its best efforts, Saint Leo could not recover from the drastic change in momentum. The Panthers cushioned a running margin of 10 points over the final eight minutes to secure the conference win.
In spite of the final score, the Lions controlled the rebounding department for the majority of the afternoon as they out-rebounded Florida Tech, 43-33.
The game marks the first time since 2006-07 that Saint Leo has lost its season series with Florida Tech.
The Lions will continue their SSC schedule on Wednesday, February 2 when the group travels to Boca Raton, Fla. for a rematch with Lynn University. Opening tip is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
