SAINT LEO, Fla. – The Saint Leo women's basketball team clinched a 62-54 win on the road at Florida Institute of Technology Saturday afternoon. The Sunshine State Conference game returns the Lions to the win column after a three-game skid.

Delaney Bernard produced career-high 18-point day going 4-7 FG, 4-6 3FG, 6-6 FT.

Head Coach Anthony Crocitto said, "This was certainly a gusty, back to the wall, character driven victory on the road. We were disappointed in our effort at Tampa in the fourth quarter and we were determined to play forty solid minutes today."

"What a game for Delaney and her rookie teammates. Delaney hit some very key three-pointers, while icing the game with six free throws. Delaney has been putting in extra work and it shows. Day Jackson was on another level at times today. She carried us through some stretches while Alani Gallagher persevered through some hard fought minutes and solid numbers."

"Our sophomore backcourt was tremendous on both ends and played restlessly tonight."

Crocitto continued, "I did challenge this group on Thursday and we, as a staff, identified things we absolutely needed to do and they did them."

"While it has been a roller coaster of a year with injuries and efficiency, we are playing our best basketball as we begin February and there is no better time to be playing that way then now. I'm so proud of these women," concluded Crocitto.


The Basics
Final Score: Saint Leo Lions 62, Florida Institute Technology 54
Location: Melbourne, Fla. | Charles & Ruth Clemente Center
Records: SLU 9-14, 4-11 SSC | FIT 9-11, 6-8 SSC

How It Happened...
1Q | Saint Leo jumpstarted the day 7-2 after Gina Brierley sunk a three-pointer at 7:17. Day Jackson took the inside territory early. Her jumper in the paint at 1:12 lifted Saint Leo by 12; 17-5. | Saint Leo 17-8 |
2Q | Saint Leo took the second quarter 19-16. Nikira Hooks' layup in the paint regained a double figure lead for the Lions, 27-16 at 4:38. Hooks added another jumper and then assisted Delaney Bernard's three pointer, 32-18. Madelin Lang converted both free throw shots for the 12-point lead at halftime. | Saint Leo 36-24 |
3Q | Saint Leo continued to hold and add to its lead in the third, outscoring FIT 13-11. Bernard's back-to-back three pointers raised the Lions 46-32. | Saint Leo 49-35 |
4Q | The Panthers outscored the Lions 19-13 in the fourth, shortening Saint Leo's lead to as little as four points. The Lions outlasted the Panthers efforts converting eight points from charity stripe to clinch the win. | Saint Leo 62-54 |
 
Points to Note

• Delaney Bernard went 4-7 FG, 4-6 3FG, 2-2 FT to produce career-high 18 points. As a team, Saint Leo went 5-15 around the circle over Fla. Tech's 0-15 long-range day.
• Alani Gallagher scored 11 points, grabbed seven rebounds while Day Jackson tallied 10 points, three rebounds.
• Nikira Hooks led the Lions off the glass with nine rebounds and help the offense with nine points.
• Saint Leo shot .455 percent from the field while the hosts shot .321 percent in the Charles & Ruth Clemente Center.
• Saint Leo outrebounded Fla. Tech 37-31.

For Fla. Tech

• Delise Williams' 17 points, six rebounds, three assists and three steals fell short before she fouled out. On the day she went 8-13 FG, 0-2 3FG, 5-7 FT.
• Kailyn Ebb also fouled out. Beforehand, Ebb scored 11 points, team-high nine rebounds.

Up Next
Saint Leo returns home to the Marion Bowman Activities Center on Wednesday, February 7 at 5:30 to host Nova Southeastern.
 
For the latest news, updates, and information on the Saint Leo women's basketball, be sure to visit SaintLeoLions.com. Fans can also stay up-to-date on the latest Lions news by following Saint Leo Athletics on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.