MELBOURNE, Fla - The Saint Leo women's basketball team fell short in a hard Faught battle on the road against Florida Southern 62-67. The road loss drops the Green and Gold's overall record to 11-15, 5-13 in the Sunshine State Conference, While Florida Tech's moved to 9-20, 4-14 in the SSC.
 
From the opening tip-off, both teams were determined to leave everything on the court. The Lions came out strong in the first quarter, shooting 41% from the field and showing their offensive efficiency. Led by Taydra Simpson's impressive performance, Saint Leo battled neck and neck with their opponents throughout the first half. Simpson was impressive leading the Lions with 21 points, six rebounds and four blocks.
 
However, the Panthers countered with their own runs, led by Emily Acampora and Tai Roberts, who combined 5 three-pointers this afternoon. Despite Saint Leo's resilience on defense, Florida Tech managed to maintain a slight edge heading into halftime 33-29.
 
The third quarter saw both teams trading baskets in a fast-paced back-and-forth exchange. Olivia Agunzo and Chynna Mattair stepped up for the Lions, contributing crucial points to keep the game within reach. But Florida Tech's Kyandra Poitier dominated the boards, hauling in 14 rebounds to give her team second-chance opportunities.
 
As the game entered the final quarter, Saint Leo refused to back down. Jumoke Adaramoye and Alanis Diaz fought hard defensively on the boards battling against Florida Tech's tough interior defense. Kamaria Sheriff provided a spark off the bench with her relentless hustle.
 
Despite their valiant efforts, the Lions fell just short of completing the comeback. Florida Tech's solid free-throw shooting down the stretch sealed the victory, leaving Saint Leo with a final score of 62-67.
 
The Lions will look to bounce back as they head back home for a matchup against Lynn next Wednesday February 28^th. The Lions will be celebrating International Night and tip off is slated to start at 5:00 p.m.

For the latest news, updates, and information on Saint Leo women's basketball, 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.