MELBOURNE, Fla. – The Saint Leo women's basketball team won its first Sunshine State Conference matchup of the season at Florida Tech on Saturday. The Lions defeated the Panthers 63-53 in the Charles and Ruth Clemente Center.
 
"It felt really good to bounce back," said head coach Anthony Crocitto. "I felt even better as the student-athletes made the necessary adjustments in getting us the victory. I am very proud of the Lions tonight." The victory marked Crocitto's 200^th career win in his 16-year career at the helm of a women's basketball program.
 
Ayanna Trigg propelled the Lions over the Panthers with a double-double scoring a game-high 17 points going 7-for-8 from the floor and 3-for-6 from the free-throw line. Off the glass, she pulled down a game-high 14 rebounds. Ayanna Trigg was followed by Kiki McIntyre with 15 points and Amanda Ulrich with 14 points. Tori Lesko joined Trigg inside to contribute seven rebounds while also adding nine points and four assists.
 
Saint Leo (2-2, 1-0 SSC) and Florida Tech (1-3, 0-1 SSC) battled bucket by bucket leading up the half. The Panthers earned the slight one-point advantage at 26-25 on the charity stripe before the halfway break. Ayanna Trigg flipped the script in the opening minutes of the third with a dominating performance from coast to coast. The forward from Tampa, Florida recorded a pair of rebounds, a steal, and eight unanswered points. Her work moved the score to 36-27 with 5:30 left in third. Kiki McIntyre's good bucket and one from the line gave the Green and Gold its first double-digit lead of the game. The Panthers would attempt to cut down the gap to single digits in the fourth, but Lions held their ground.
 
"I am very proud that the team committed to the formula that we put in place," continued Crocitto. "Our bench once again stepped up and held down the fort while we were in foul trouble.
 
"While out backcourt, in general, played better, Ayanna Trigg was sensational. Tori Lesko also dominated a pivotal part of the third quarter.
 
"We have to continue to buy into the daily plan in getting better. If we do that, we will get incrementally better daily and that's the focus. We are excited to play Flagler in a rematch on Wednesday."
 
The Lions remain on the road to face non-conference foe, Flagler, for a second time this season. The Gulf South Conference Saints will host the Lions on Wednesday, Nov. 24 at 2:00 p.m. before celebrating the Thanksgiving holiday.
 
For the latest news, updates, and information on the Saint Leo women's basketball program, 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.