Florida Tech Panthers Women’s Basketball Pick Up Their First Conference Win Against Embry-Riddle
By Tiffany Jacobs, Florida Tech News Bureau // January 12, 2023
panther's Sarah Liberatore scored career high 28 points
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Florida Tech women’s basketball returned home looking to bounce back after a close loss on the road at Palm Beach Atlantic.
Sarah Liberatore scored a career-high 28 points to lead the Panthers to their first conference win this season.
The Eagles got on the board first with an easy layup. The Panthers responded with a 6-0 run to jump out to a 7-4 lead. Embry-Riddle was able to tie things up at seven with a deep three-pointer.
Tech had an answer for the Eagles using an 8-0 run capped off by a layup from Sarah Liberatore to grab the lead 15-7.
The Eagles ended the quarter on a jumper to close the margin to five.
Embry-Riddle opened the second with back-to-back three-pointers. Again, the Panthers had an answer for the Eagles with Emily Acampora draining two three-pointers to give Tech an 11-point lead with 5:34 to go.
The Eagles got their offense going with a 4-0 run to put them back within six points. A three-ball from Tai Roberts followed by another three from Liberatore extended the Panther’s lead back to 11. Tech headed into the half leading 45-34. The Panthers outscored Embry-Riddle 28-22 in the second quarter.
The scoring was almost even in the third quarter with both teams exchanging baskets at both ends of the court. Liberatore hit her third three pointer of the night with 7:42 to go. The Eagles answered once again with their own three-pointer followed by a layup to cut the Panther’s lead to just six.
Acampora was able to hit a jumper to extend the lead back out to 11. Divine Guthrie ended the quarter with a jumper and a free throw to give the Panthers a double-digit lead again.
Embry-Riddle outscored Florida Tech 20-19 in the third quarter. Heading into the fourth quarter, the Panthers had a 10-point lead 64-54.
Embry-Riddle quickly cut the Panther’s lead to seven when Keturah Balabyekkubo drained a three-pointer. Liberatore made her fifth three pointer of the night to push Tech’s lead back to nine.
The Eagles battled back with a jumper followed by a free throw to cut the deficit to six. With 1:48 to go the Panthers went back up by 13.
Embry-Riddle responded with a jumper, but Tech would go score the next four points to seal the deal.
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