SAINT LEO, Fla. – Saint Leo women's basketball earned its second straight win, defeating Barry 77-68 Saturday night in Sunshine State Conference play in the Marion Bowman Activities Center.
 
Alex Button led Saint Leo (8-9, 4-5 SSC) with 20 points on 6-of-10 shooting including a perfect 4-for-4 night from three-point territory and the free-throw line. Alani Gallagher challenged Button for the lead with 19 points on 6-of-17 shooting including a 7-for-10 night from the free-throw line. Amanda Ulrich nearly notched a double-double with 11 points and eight rebounds. Abby Zeitsiff finished the night with nine points, all coming late in the fourth quarter to help propel the Green and Gold.
 
Barry (4-11, 2-7 SSC) saw all five starters score in double-figures led by Nerena Baena's 13 points.

Head coach Anthony Crocitto boasted, "Alex Button set the tone early teaming up with Alani Gallagher. Together, they got us off to a hot start."
 
Saint Leo controlled the opening period after starting off with an 8-2 run. The Buccaneers rallied to tie things at 17 before the Lions saw Gina Brierley drop two points in the paint for a 21-19 lead after the first quarter. The Green and Gold continued to push the lead, moving out to an 11 points advantage before the largest of 14 points on an Alex Button three. Saint Leo held an eight-point lead at the halftime break, 41-33.
 
The Bucs cut the deficit to just one, 46-45, in the third quarter with just over half of the quarter remaining. The Lions quickly answered and pushed it to 10, 56-46 on a Casey O'Shaughnessy layup. Saint Leo closed the third with an eight-point advantage, 60-52. After the Lions' lead was cut to five, 62-57, Abby Zeitsiff would drain her first three, putting the Green and Gold back up by double-digits, 68-57 with 6:55 to go. Zeitsiff would hit two more threes in a row to keep the Lions ahead.


"Abby Zeitsiff was the difference in that pivotal stretch and caught fire," highlighted Head Coach Anthony Crocitto. "She puts in her time and it paid off tonight."
 
Barry would get within three with 1:21 to play, 71-68, but the Lions used a three from Amanda Ulrich and free throws from O'Shaughnessy and Alani Gallagher.

Crocitto shifted his comments towards his starting freshman point guard, Amanda Ulrich, "What else can I say about rookie Amanda Ulrich? She hit a big-time three while pulling down eight boards for us."
 
Up Next
The Lions hit the road and make a quick trip to St. Petersburg on Wednesday, Jan. 22 for a matchup with the Eckerd College Tritons at 5:30 p.m.
 
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. Don't miss out on the 2019-20 Basketball Pride Pass, now on sale. The Saint Leo Basketball Pride Pass gives each fan admission to all home men's and women's basketball events. For more information visit here.