Lady Panthers Struggle In Loss To The Bears Of Shaw University At Holiday Hoops Classic

Swan led Panthers with career-high 14 points

The offensive struggles continued for Florida Tech women’s basketball on Monday as it was handed its third loss in a row 64-53 by the Bears of Shaw Monday. (FIT image)

 WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA – The offensive struggles continued for Florida Tech women’s basketball on Monday as it was handed its third loss in a row 64-53 by the Bears of Shaw Monday at the Palm Beach Atlantic Holiday Hoops Classic.

Aniquah Swan led the Panthers with a career-high 14 points on 7-of-9 shooting and three rebounds. Julie McCarthy fell one rebound shy of a second straight double-double, finishing with 11 point and nine boards.

Shequana Harris and Gracie Doane both scored six points in the loss.

Stephanie Custodio paced Shaw with 19 points, four rebounds and three steals. Imani Heggins added 15 points and six boards, while Lillian Smith closed out the Bears in double-figures with 14 points.

FIT took a 10-4 lead early in the contest but a 7-0 run put SU ahead by one with 2:39 remaining in the first quarter.

The teams exchanged baskets the rest of the period before a jumper by Tereza Sedlakova gave the Panthers a 17-16 edge heading into the second.

Shaw took control in the second quarter, outscoring the Panthers 18-10 to corral a 34-27 advantage as the teams went into halftime.

McCarthy’s layup at the 5:53 mark of the third cut the Panthers’ deficit to one, 36-35. The Bears responded with an 11-1 spurt to increase their lead to double-digits with just over a minute left in the third quarter and took a 48-39 edge into the fourth.

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SU pushed its lead to as much as 11, 54-43, with 5:08 remaining and held off the Panthers the rest of the way to pick up their third victory of the season.

Following the conclusion of action on Monday, FIT’s McCarthy was named to the Holiday Hoops Classic All-Tournament Team. The senior averaged 18 points and 9.5 rebounds over the two games.

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Florida Tech closes out 2016 with a Sunshine State Conference road matchup at Lynn on Friday, Dec. 30.

The contest is set to begin at 5:30 p.m. ET in Boca Raton, Florida. Fans can access live coverage of the action at FloridaTechSports.com.

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