SAINT LEO, Fla. –  The Lynn University women's basketball team came away with their first Sunshine State Conference victory of the season on Saturday after defeating Saint Leo on the road by a final of 67-58.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final: Lynn 67, Saint Leo 58

Records: Lynn (3-17, 1-11 SSC) Saint Leo (4-18 1-12 SSC)

Location: Marion Bowman Center | Saint Leo, Fla.

Series: Lynn leads 28-18

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HOW IT HAPPENED

• First Quarter: Charla Nelson-James won the opening tip, and Zachara Bailey provided the game's first points by connecting on a shot from behind the arc. Saint Leo took their first lead of the game when Mary Redmond connected on a three-ball to put the Lions ahead 11-10. Shatorria Baker and Maddie Herr added trifectas of their own before the period came to a close, and Lynn led 17-14 at quarter's end.
• Second Quarter: The Fighting Knights went on a 10-3 run in the first part of the second quarter, sharing the ball along the way. Nelson-James finished the first half with 10 points and six rebounds, while Bria Huffmann totaled seven rebounds through the first 20 minutes. After never trailing in the second quarter, Lynn carried a 33-25 lead into the locker room at intermission.
• Third Quarter: The two teams exchanged buckets for the majority of the third stanza, but the Lions shot better than 54% from the floor in the period. Huffmann, Nina Guillaume, and Shaunt'e Tucker combined for all of Lynn's 15 points in the third quarter, and the Fighting Knights entered the final frame with a 48-39 advantage.
• Fourth Quarter: Nelson-James sunk a pair of free throws in the opening minute of the fourth quarter to extend the Lynn lead to 11. Saint Leo's Izabell Skoogh made two free throws to cut the team's deficit to as little as six, but Lynn outscored their hosts 5-3 in the final 1:07 to come away with their first conference victory of the season. 

STATS FROM THE GAME

• Nelson-James finished with 15 points and 13 rebounds, leading the Fighting Knights in both categories.
• Tifani Kerrison followed with 12 points off the bench, while Huffmann and Baker went for 10 each.
• SSC leading scorer Chelsy Springs tallied a game-high 21 points as one of two Lions in double-figures.
• Lynn owned the glass all night, claiming a 46-24 rebounding advantage over the Lions.
• Saint Leo committed just 10 turnovers, while the Fighting Knights turned the ball over 17 times.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• The double-double for Nelson-James was the first of her senior campaign.
• With Saturday's win, Lynn and Saint Leo have split the regular season series, with the road team winning each meeting.

UP NEXT:

The Fighting Knights return to action on Wednesday, Feb. 10, when they make the short trip over to West Palm Beach to take on Palm Beach Atlantic University. Tipoff is slated for 5:30 pm.