November 7, 2025
Spartans Come Up Short in a Close Battle
Denton, Texas – The University of Tampa Women's Basketball team opened its 2025-26 campaign with a neutral-site showdown against #25 Harding University. The Spartans, looking to start the season strong, battled through a tightly contested matchup at Kitty Magee Arena but ultimately fell short in a 69–66 loss.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final Score: Tampa 66, Harding 69 Records: Tampa 0-1 (0-0 Sunshine State), Harding 1-0 (0-0 GAC) Location: Kitty Magee Arena | Denton, Texas All-time series: This was a non-conference meeting between the two programs.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
FIRST HALF: Tampa came out firing in the first quarter, led by Olivia Davis, who knocked down two early three-pointers to give the Spartans a quick edge. Giorgia Palmieri added a triple of her own and dished out two assists in the opening frame, helping Tampa build a commanding 11-point lead midway through the quarter. Ryan Franklin dominated the paint with a pair of layups and a free throw, while Amy Thompson connected from deep to extend the lead. Harding responded with a few buckets of their own, but Tampa's ball movement and perimeter shooting gave them a 20–16 lead after one.
In the second quarter, Tampa's offense cooled slightly, but Brooklynn Butler provided a spark off the bench with two quick field goals. Franklin continued to control the boards and added another bucket, while Davis hit her third three of the game. Despite a brief scoring drought, Tampa held a 34–28 lead at halftime thanks to solid defense and timely rebounding.
Score: Tampa 34, Harding 28
SECOND HALF: Harding came out aggressive in the third quarter, trimming the deficit with strong inside play. Tampa answered with a three from Thompson and a mid-range jumper from Butler. Franklin remained a steady presence, scoring four more points and grabbing key rebounds. However, Harding's offensive rebounding and transition play helped them take a narrow 46–50 lead heading into the fourth.
In the final quarter, Tampa fought back behind Amy Thompson, who was dialed in from beyond the arc. She hit two more threes and added a pair of rebounds, while Palmieri continued to facilitate with three assists in the frame. Franklin added another layup, and Butler converted a three-point play to keep the Spartans within striking distance. With under a minute to play, Tampa trailed by three but couldn't convert on their final possession. Harding iced the game with free throws to secure the win.
Final: Tampa 66, Harding 69
INSIDE THE STATS:
- Ryan Franklin led the Spartans with 18 points, 9 rebounds, and 1 block
- Amy Thompson scored 17 points on 5-of-9 shooting from three, adding 3 rebounds and 2 assists
- Olivia Davis contributed 11 points and 6 rebounds, including 3 three-pointers
- Brooklynn Butler added 11 points off the bench, shooting a perfect 4-of-4 from the field
- Giorgia Palmieri dished out a team-high 8 assists and added 5 points
- Tampa shot 49% from the field and 44% from three, but committed 17 turnovers
- The Spartans recorded 18 assists and 35 total rebounds