BOCA RATON, Fla.- The Lynn University women's basketball team came up just short by the final buzzer as the Fighting Knights dropped a hard-fought 52-47 decision to Tampa. The Blue and White rallied for a 23-15 fourth quarter comeback attempt but fell short in the closing seconds of regulation.
Lynn is 10-10 overall and 4-9 in the SSC while the Spartans improved to 19-4 and 11-2.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Trinity Mocadlo scored on Lynn's first possession of the game with a quick layup.
- Tampa's Zoe Piller capped off the first quarter with eight of UT's 10 points as Tampa took a narrow 10-8 lead by the end of the frame.
- The Spartans took a 17-10 lead in the middle of the second following a 7-2 run.
- Two mid-range jumpers from UT's Sariana Rodriguez put the Spartans up by halftime, 25-16.
- Tampa added onto its lead to start the second half, putting together an 11-4 run which was cut short on a three-point play from Jess Knight, 36-23.
- Danielle Montelbano kept the Spartans within striking distance following a last second trip to the charity stripe to end the third, 37-24.
- A jumper from Knight kicked off a 5-0 run for the Fighting Knights to start the fourth quarter, cutting Tampa's lead to just six, 37-31.
- Back-to-back trips to the line for Ella Fiore brought Lynn within four before a big three-pointer from Rachel Romich cut the Spartans' lead to just one, 39-38.
- An "and-one" play by Makayla Hemingway followed by a quick basket from Fiore kept Tampa up by just one, with 2:57 left to play.
- Tampa hit a big three-pointer with 43 seconds left to put the game on ice as Lynn was forced to foul to try and keep the game within reach.
- Romich hit one last three-pointer with 12 seconds left as Tampa thwarted Lynn's fourth quarter comeback attempt, 52-47.
FIGHTING KNIGHT STATS:
- Both Knight and Fiore ended the game with 12-points apiece to lead Lynn on offense.
- Knight has scored at least 12 or more points in 17 games this season while Fiore recorded her third double-digit scoring performance in a row.
- Hemingway pulled down a team-best seven rebounds, all of which came off the defensive glass.
- Romich has recorded two back-to-back notable performances from three-point range, going a combined 4-7 in Lynn's last two contests.
- Montelbano finished the game with a team-high three assists.
UP NEXT:
The Fighting Knights are set to No.16 Embry-Riddle on the road Wednesday, Feb. 5 at 5:30 p.m.
