MELBOURNE, Fla. – The Saint Leo women's basketball team opened the second half of Sunshine State Conference play with a 66-60 road win over Florida Tech on Saturday.

"This is a huge win for us," stated head coach Anthony Crocitto. "We hit a ton of free throws to close out a game on the road in this ridiculously tough conference."
 
Saint Leo (9-10, 5-6 SSC) was paced by Amanda Ulrich with 20 points, which marked the sixth 20-plus point performance of her rookie campaign. She was supported by Alani Gallagher with 17 points and Gina Brierley with 10. Alex Button earned a team-high nine rebounds and added seven points.

As a unit, the Green and Gold shot a 50.0-percent (22-44) from the field. Beyond the arc the Lions registered a 35.7-percent (5-14), while going 85.0-percent at the line. The Lions won the battle of boards, out-rebounding the Panthers 30 to 13.

"I'm proud to see Amanda bounce back from a tough loss on Wednesday. I am also proud of Gina Brierley, who is playing her best basketball of her career in 2020. She made important adjustments to become a great leader and captain."

Crocitto redirected his thoughts to his points from his bench, "How about getting five big points from Summer Quigley and Lenise Santiago? Every possession matters. They don't get the time they deserve but put in the work daily."
 
Florida Tech (8-11, 4-7 SSC) was able to make up ground after a slow start but it wouldn't hold up against the Lions' perseverance. The hosts were only able to put together a 38.7-percent (24-62) day on the hardwood. The Panthers tallied a 30.8-percent (8-26) from downtown while hitting 80.0-percent (4-5) at the line.
 
The Lions' quick start handed the Green and Gold an early double-digit lead in the first quarter, 21-8. The Panthers sliced the 13-point gap to seven with a last-second three-pointer to end the first quarter, 21-14. The hosts' momentum carried into the second period where the Panthers outscored the Lions 17-14, dishing out a halftime score of 35-31. Saint Leo took back control of the game in the third quarter. The Green and Gold shot a 60.0-percent from the field, going 6-for-10. The hot shooting extended their lead to six points entering the fourth quarter, 52-46.
 
With 4:01 left on the clock, Florida Tech brought the game to within one point, 59-58. The two teams went back-and-forth as Saint Leo looked to build a cushion and the Panthers were on the hunt for a lead change.
 
Saint Leo held onto a fragile three-point lead with 35-seconds remaining. Florida Tech's jumper darted off the iron and into the hands of Button, who held onto the ball while Crocitto called a timeout, insuring the possession. Ulrich drew a foul and converted both free throws for a 65-60 advantage. Ulrich was sent to the line one more time for the ultimate score of 66-60.  

"We have our work cut out for us to finish the season strong. We plan to practice hard starting on Monday to get ready for Florida Southern in the Marion Bowman Activities Center with our fans, family, and friends to support us."
 
Beyond the Boxscore

• The second half SSC victory in Melbourne, Fla. marks the Lions first true road win. In the opening GSC/SSC tournament in Lakeland, Fla., Saint Leo captured a win during a neutral site contest against Alabama-Huntsville.
• The day's victory earned a season sweep over the Panthers. Saint Leo defeated Florida Tech 82-67 last meeting on Saturday, Nov. 23 in the Marion Bowman Activities Center.  

Up Next
Saint Leo returns home on Wednesday, Jan. 29 to host the Florida Southern Moccasins starting 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.