Panther Women’s Basketball Prepare For SSC Opener
By Florida Tech // December 6, 2014
COACH John Reynolds ONE WIN FROM 500
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Continuing its torrid run to begin the season, Florida Tech looks to make it seven wins in a row as Sunshine State Conference play opens against the Eckerd Tritons at 2 p.m. Saturday afternoon.
Adding significance to an already intriguing matchup, head coach John Reynolds enters one victory shy of reaching monumental No. 500 for his career.
Off to their best start since 2008-09, the Panthers eye improvement from last year’s 7-9 record during the conference slate, including a two-game split with the Tritons.
In Tuesday’s 99-70 drubbing of Albany State, Florida Tech (6-0) received 59 points from its bench to go along with a season-high 10 three-point field goals.
Driving the bench’s recent success has been senior Kaila Callender. One game removed from a career-high 12 points in last Saturday’s 82-69 triumph over Armstrong State, Callender upped the ante by registering 14 points and five boards, including a perfect 4-of-4 from deep.
Leading from start to finish, Florida Tech allowed Albany State to close the gap to 12 with 9:32 remaining in the second half, but the Panther offense was too much to handle in a contest that saw 13 Panthers tally at least two points.
With the victory, Florida Tech remains the only basketball program in the state of Florida to have both the men’s and women’s squads undefeated. It is also one of two NCAA Division II institutions in the country to have both basketball teams undefeated.
Not too shabby themselves, sitting at 5-1, Eckerd travels to Melbourne riding a four-game win streak after its 67-49 thumping of Southern New Hampshire last Saturday.
Head coach Paul Honsinger’s club currently leads the conference in field goal percentage, shooting a blistering 53.1 percent per game.
The Triton offense is paced by guard Rana Thomas’ 17.8 points per game. Complementing Thomas with her inside presence, 6-foot-3 Trine Kasemagi chips in 14 points per game at an unheard of 67.3 percent clip from the field.
