Embry-Riddle Uses Long-Ball to Top Spartans

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - The University of Tampa women's basketball team fell behind early and was unable to overcome Embry-Riddle on the road in Sunshine State Conference play.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final Score: Embry-Riddle Eagles 67, Tampa Spartans 58
Records: Tampa (8-4, 2-2 SSC), Embry-Riddle (7-4, 2-2 SSC)
Location: ICI Center || Daytona Beach, Fla.
All-Time Series: Embry-Riddle now leads the all-time series by a 4-3 mark.

HOW IT HAPPENED:
1st Quarter | Both teams enjoyed a solid first quarter, with the Spartans shooting 50 percent from the field. Embry-Riddle shot 44.4 percent from the field as it also connected on three from long-range. Dori Nagy led the Spartans with 11 points behind 5-of-7 shooting from the field. The Eagles would take a 21-18 advantage to the end of the quarter. 

2nd Quarter | Tampa held Embry-Riddle to just 5-of-16 from the floor, though the Spartans were haunted by eight turnovers in the 10-minute quarter. A total of seven Spartans had at least one turnover. Staja Tyghter scored four points to lead the Spartans, who went to the half facing a 35-27 deficit.

3rd Quarter | The Spartans outscored the Eagles in the third quarter, cutting the deficit to 46-41. Overall, Tampa was 7-for-12 from the field as Nagy and Kris Nelson each contributed four points to lead UT. 

4th Quarter | Embry-Riddle was able to hold its lead behind four 3-point field goals in the final quarter. Tampa enjoyed another solid shooting effort, draining 6-of-9 field goals, though the combination of Embry-Riddle's long-range shots and 7-4 differential on the boards proved to be too much for the visiting Spartans.

INSIDE THE STATS:

• Nagy led the Spartans with 19 points 
• Tyghter also reached double figures as the Spartan leading scorer added 11 points to go with team highs of seven rebounds, four assists and two blocks.
• The Spartans shot 54.5 percent from the field and limited the Eagles to a 39.7 percent clip.
• Embry-Riddle connected on 12 from long-range as the Spartans made just three from beyond the arc.

BEYOND THE BOX:

• This marks the first back-to-back losses for the Spartans this season.
• Head coach Tom Jessee currently sits at 498 career victories.

UP NEXT: Tampa returns home to host Palm Beach Atlantic, who is 4-7 on the season and in search of its first SSC victory after going winless in the first three.

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