MELBOURNE, Fla. – The Saint Leo women's basketball team returned to the win column Wednesday night at Florida Tech. The Lions topped the Panthers 58-52 shooting 48-percent from the floor over the 30-percent shot by the Panthers. 
 
Saint Leo (10-14, 5-11 SSC) showcased three double-digit scorers in the form of Gina Brierley (13), Madelin Lang (12), and Asia Royster (11). Casey Wortley helped the offense with eight points while earning a game-high 10 rebounds.  
 
Florida Tech (7-16, 3-12 SSC) cut a 19-point deficit to four but couldn't overcome the large Saint Leo first-half lead. The Panthers were paced by Tereza Sedlakova with 17 points and Novemeber Morton with 16 points. Makyla Daniels and Kailyn Ebb shared the work off the glass, each grabbing seven rebounds.
 
 
How It Happened

• Lang hit a jumper at 6:59 for the early 6-4 lead. Wortley added a corner pocket three-ball to extend the lead to five. Saint Leo went on a 6-0 run to hit its first double-digit lead, 15-5 at 1:51. The Panthers put up two points from the charity stripe to close the first quarter, 15-7.
• Lang and Royster capitalized on a coast to coast fast break to maintain a 10-point lead, 21-11. Florida Tech made its first three-pointer at 3:37 and followed with another one at 2:44 to cut the game to 25-20. Saint Leo attacked from around the arc to regain a double-digit lead. Delaney Bernard and Lang each put up a bucket from downtown for a 35-24 scoreboard with 22 seconds left in the quarter. The Panthers jumper beat the buzzer to move the score to 35-26.
• It wasn't until 6:14 when Florida Tech earned the first points of the third quarter. Saint Leo earned a quick 4-0 run to grab an 11-point lead, 39-28. Saint Leo entered the last quarter up, 42-31.
• A Green and Gold 8-0 run hit the largest Lion lead at 19-points, 52-33 at 5:54. Florida Tech earned a 15-0 run to cut the game down to four points off four-straight Saint Leo turnovers; 52-48 at 1:01. The last minute was spent at the line where the Lions outlasted the Panthers 58-52.

 
Up Next
Saint Leo returns to the Marion Bowman Activities Center for three consecutive home games. On Saturday, Feb. 16 at 5:30 p.m. the Green and Gold open the home game stretch against the Embry-Riddle Eagles during the program's Play4Kay game.
 
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.