SAINT LEO, Fla. – The Saint Leo women's basketball team lost a heartbreaker on Senior Day versus the Florida Tech Panthers 58-56, in a Sunshine State Conference (SSC) contest on Saturday afternoon.
The Lions started slow offensively, only scoring two points in the first three minutes. A three-pointer from junior Alanis Diaz broke the drought before the Lions went scoreless for another two minutes. Fast-break layups from Diaz and redshirt junior Chynna Mattair put Saint Leo within one before neither team scored for nearly three minutes. Graduate student Jumoke Adaramoye broke the deadlock with a pull-up jumper, giving the Lions their first lead of the day.
Junior Taydra Simpson opened the second quarter with a three-pointer, the start of a quick 7-0 run for the Lions. Adaramoye capped off the run with a layup that gave Saint Leo an eight-point lead, their largest of the afternoon, as Florida Tech was forced into a timeout. Once again, the Lions went scoreless for over two minutes with the Panthers taking advantage and cutting the lead to two. Freshman Vanessa McManus then knocked down a three-pointer to end the scoreless run. Yet another scoreless run of more than two minutes ensued for the Lions. This time, the lead was never in danger, and Adaramoye knocked down a three-pointer to give Saint Leo a two-possession lead into halftime.
Florida Tech once again held Saint Leo scoreless for a lengthy period, this time lasting over three minutes to open the half. The Panthers went on a 7-0 run to take a three-point lead before a free throw from Simpson put the Lions on the board. Florida Tech went up six as Saint Leo went scoreless for nearly two minutes. The Lions got back within four, but the Panthers continued to score on second-chance opportunities. Senior Mikaela Hall scored a free throw and a fast break layup in 32 seconds to put Saint Leo back within three. But the momentum was short-lived, as the Lions went scoreless for the remainder of the quarter.
Adaramoye opened the fourth quarter scoring with a jumper to put the Lions within a score. However, another long scoring drought began, and the Panthers took advantage, increasing their lead to 11. Simpson knocked down a three-pointer to end the drought at the 7:31 mark. Diaz took advantage of a three-point play to cut Florida Tech's lead to five as the game entered its final five minutes. Both sides traded scores and Florida Tech went up six with under three minutes to play before Simpson made a fast-break to pull Saint Leo within three.
The Lions got within two thanks to a pair of free throws from McManus with 1:47 left. Florida Tech then went one of two at the line, and Saint Leo had a chance to tie the game, but a jumper from Adaramoye fell short. However, crucial missed free throws by the Panthers allowed for Freshman Shadia Lara to tie the game at 58 with 24 seconds left. A quick score for Florida Tech put them up 60-58 with 18 seconds to play. As time winded down, Diaz drove toward the basket trying to draw a foul. However, no foul was called and the Panthers held onto a four-point victory.
Diaz led the Lions with 13 points while grabbing six rebounds. Adaramoye followed with 10 points and six rebounds. Hall scored a career-high 13 points and grabbed three rebounds. Simpson finished with 10 points, four rebounds, and five assists.
Saint Leo returns to the court on Tuesday, March 4, as it will travel to Daytona Beach to play #5 Embry-Riddle in the Quarterfinals of the 2025 Sunshine State Conference Women's Basketball Championship.
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- SaintLeoLions.com -
