After a sluggish start, No. 16 Florida Tech validated its ranking by running away with a comfortable 80-60 win on the road at Florida Southern Saturday. ( FIT image )
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – After a sluggish start, No. 16 Florida Tech validated its ranking by running away with a comfortable 80-60 win on the road at Florida Southern Saturday.
With the victory, the Panthers now hold a one-game edge over No. 10 Rollins for the best record in the Sunshine State Conference.
Ahead just two at the break, Florida Tech erupted for 49 second-half points.
Three Panthers scored in double-figures, paced by Kayk Wilson’s 19 points, and Florida Tech forced 23 turnovers to grab its 15th win of the season.
John Reynolds
“I thought this was a really good team effort in the second half,” said head coach John Reynolds.
“The last 10 minutes of the first half we started to get into a little bit of a rhythm, but the second half was a team effort. Everybody did their jobs exceptionally well. In a week where we get two ‘W’s’ on the road, I have to be happy about that.”
One step behind on both ends of the floor early on, the Panthers found themselves behind 15-10 at the 14:52 mark after the Mocs’ Cashala Thompson buried two quick treys from the corner.
The deficit grew to seven after an easy bucket from Florida Southern’s Mariah Harris. The junior started a perfect 4-of-4 from the field.
Forced to the bench after colliding with a Mocs’ player, Shequana Harris returned and pumped life into the Panthers connecting from beyond the arc to make it 24-20.
A put back by junior Diamond Cooper finally pushed Florida Tech back in front 28-27, giving the Panthers their first lead since 6-5.
Using a 14-5 run to close the half, Florida Tech headed into the locker room up 31-29.
Jasmire Brown
Out of the break, Jasmire Brown didn’t waste any time in scoring five of her 14 second half points to extend the Panthers’ lead to 36-31.
With just under 14 minutes to play, forward BreAnn Davis finished an emphatic three-point play to give Florida Tech an eight-point advantage.
A 6-0 spurt by the Mocs made it a four-point ballgame, but Wilson instantly responded with a lay-in to make it 51-45 with 9:20 left.
Amidst an 11-0 Panther run, Kaila Callender stole an errant pass near halfcourt and then found Wilson for one of her four threes, blowing the game wide open.
Not done yet, freshman DeLise Williams scored her only two of the game with 59 seconds left to give FIT its largest lead at 80-58, sending Florida Southern fans to the exits,
Providing a significant boost off the bench, Callender and forward Cooper combined for 15 points and 13 boards on the evening.
“It wasn’t necessarily the points nor the rebounds, but I thought Diamond’s defense prevented scores tonight,” said Reynolds. “She was a huge presence inside for us.”
FIT returns home to the Clemente Center for a crucial SSC showdown with No. 10 Rollins Wednesday at 5:30 p.m.
