SAINT LEO, Fla. – Despite a trio of players going for double figures, including a game-high 15 by Lauren Lee, the Saint Leo women’s basketball team (7-6, 0-3 SSC) could not overcome the three-point barrage by the Florida Southern College Moccasins (9-2, 2-0 SSC) as they took down the home-standing Lions, 88-64, Wednesday evening from the Marion Bowman Activities Center.
Leading the charge in the Sunshine State Conference tilt was Lee. She found herself one rebound shy of her second consecutive double-double, as she topped her team-high 15 points with nine rebounds and a season-best four assists. The pair of Chelsea Williams and Brittany Carannante went off for identical stat lines as each poured in 14 points and registered five rebounds. Jamarra Robinson also enjoyed a solid night offensively as she collected eight points on 3-of-5 shooting and gathered three steals.
Despite some of the impressive offensive numbers, the Mocs were able to connect on 10 three-point field goals and shoot 46.4 percent (32-of-69) from the floor as Florida Southern pulled away for the 24-point win.
Initially, the Green & Gold held their own against offensively potent Mocs, as the three-point shooting ability of Lee and Carannante had the Lions within two, 12-10, with 13:58 to play. However, a Chelsea Johnson three-point basket seconds later swayed momentum towards the Mocs. The shot ignited a 24-2 run over next eight minutes to give Florida Southern a 24-point lead. During the stretch, Micheala Hawley dropped in 12 of the Mocs’ 24 points.
While the run put the Lions in a hole, the group remained resilient as they went on to score 24 of the next 37 points. Following the Mocs’ run Lee ripped-off eight straight points to cut the lead to 17 at the break. Out of intermission, Robinson continued the team’s hot hand as she connected on her lone three-point field goal to cut the lead down to 13, 49-36 with 17:51 to play.
Unfortunately, that was as close as the Lions came, as back-to-back baskets by Emma Cannon and Megan Dzikas extended the advantage back to 18. Thanks to superb interior and perimeter shooting, the Mocs kept that running margin for remainder of the contest as they coasted in with the win while remaining undefeated in the SSC.
In addition, the Mocs out-rebounded the Green & Gold, 49-33, and converted 20 Saint Leo turnovers into 22 points. FSC iced the contest by hitting on 14-of-18 free throws.
The Lions will continue SSC action this Saturday, January 8 when they travel to Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. to take on the Nova Southeastern University Sharks. Tip-off of the game is set for 2:00 p.m.
