#22 Spartans Improve To 2-0 With 66-49 Victory
NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. - For the second time in as many games, Taja Green scored 15 points to lead Tampa in scoring as the Spartans cruised to a 66-49 victory over East Stroudsburg at the Courtyard by Marriot Classic hosted by Merrimack College. With the win, the 22nd-ranked Spartans improved to 2-0 while the Warriors fell to 0-1.
Gianna Messina and Angela Guiu each had a pair of threes in the first half as UT enjoyed as much as a 12-point advantage in the opening stanza, but East Stroudsburg battled back to cut its deficit to six as Tampa went into the locker room ahead 35-21 at the half.
Tampa, aided by four of Green's 11 second-half points, went on a 12-3 run to open the period and then led by as many as 24 points while pulling away for good.
UT played strong defense, holding ESU to a 36.4 percent field goal percentage. Tampa improved from its 36.4 field goal percentage in the season opener to shoot 42.4 percent from the field against the Warriors.
Caitlyn Mitryk chipped in 10 points to join Green as the only Spartan in double figures while freshman Kamari Smith led UT with nine rebounds. For the game, Tampa outrebounded the Warriors by a 44-26 margin. Messina finished the contest just one off of her career high in assists as she picked up seven helpers.
The Spartans now await the winner of the Merrimack/Tiffin contest. Tampa will meet the victor at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday.
UT will offer live stats along with a webcast through www.tampaspartans.com, accessible by clicking on the Multimedia link. Fans may follow University of Tampa athletics on Twitter (www.twitter.com/utspartans) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/tampaspartans). UT also offers eScores - a free text messaging service that sends text alerts following all Spartan events.