Putting together its most complete effort in recent weeks in its 75-58 triumph over Barry, No. 16 Florida Tech hopes for a repeat performance as it travels to Lakeland, Florida for a Sunshine State Conference tilt with Florida Southern Saturday at 5:30 p.m. ( FIT image )
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Putting together its most complete effort in recent weeks in its 75-58 triumph over Barry, No. 16 Florida Tech hopes for a repeat performance as it travels to Lakeland, Florida for a Sunshine State Conference tilt with Florida Southern Saturday at 5:30 p.m.
“We’re going to Southern on Saturday and this team has one focus, we’re 0-0,” said head coach John Reynolds following Wednesday’s win. “It starts all over again.”
The Panthers enter the weekend as one of just three remaining undefeated squads in NCAA Division II, along with Lewis and Livingstone.
In just its second true road game since Nov. 22, Florida Tech (14-0, 4-0 SSC) exploded for a 26-7 run to open the second half on its way to an imposing 17-point victory on the Bucs’ home floor.
Three Panthers scored in double-figures, including a game-high 25 points from senior Kayk Wilson, but Florida Tech’s suffocating defense was the difference-maker.
The Panthers held Barry to 32.4 percent shooting, and limited the Bucs’ top three scorers to a combined 14 points on 5-of-30 from the field. In addition, the Crimson and Gray outrebounded Barry by a 49-38 margin.
John Reynolds
“The coach looks good, but the players makes the plays,” Reynolds said about his team’s impressive display.
“You want to put your kids in a position where they can play to their strengths.”
Under the direction of first-year head coach Betsy Harris, Florida Southern (8-5, 2-2 SSC) has cooled off after taking its first two games in SSC play.
After narrow defeats of Barry and Saint Leo, the Mocs have slid in the standings with consecutive double-digit losses to Nova Southeastern and Eckerd.
In Wednesday’s 69-58 setback at home to Eckerd, Florida Southern allowed the Tritons to shoot 51.1 percent from the field and lacked the offensive firepower to overcome an 18-point second half deficit.
Forward Mariah Harris recorded a game-high 19 points and six boards, while Syerra Davis chipped in 12 points of her own.
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