Strong Finish Lifts Spartans Past Lynn in SSC Showdown

TAMPA, Fla. – The University of Tampa Women's Basketball team took down Lynn in a thrilling Sunshine State Conference matchup.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP

Final: Tampa 70, Lynn 63
Records: Tampa (17–9, 12–5 SSC), Lynn (14–11, 8–9 SSC)
Location: Bob Martinez Athletic Center | Tampa, Fla.

HOW IT HAPPENED

First Half
Tampa won the tipoff, with Ryan Franklin first on the board for the Spartans. Franklin got to work quickly in the paint, while Alanis Diaz made an impact on both ends. Faith Pickens added a layup of her own to push the Spartans further ahead. Tight defense and forced turnovers held the Fighting Knights in check offensively. Palmieri added an and-one, and the Spartans closed the first quarter leading 25–10.

Giorgia Palmieri scored first to open the second. Brooklynn Butler followed with a layup through traffic. Lynn chipped away at Tampa's lead behind three-point shooting, making it a closer contest. Tampa held on and went into halftime leading 39–37.

Second Half
Lynn scored first to tie things up. The game turned into a back-and-forth battle as each team fought for the lead. Palmieri scored through traffic, and the fast-paced contest continued, with Tampa entering the final period ahead 54–52.

Davis got on the board first in the fourth with a trip to the line. Palmieri added a jumper off a turnover. Faith Pickens contributed on both sides of the court, and Brooklynn Butler battled on the glass. Pickens converted another trip to the line. The Spartans' bench stepped up after two starters fouled out with over nine minutes remaining. Tampa secured the win, 70–63.

INSIDE THE STATS

• Ryan Franklin: 20 pts, 9 reb, 1 blk
• Giorgia Palmieri: 15 pts, 5 reb, 4 ast, 1 stl
• Faith Pickens: 14 pts, 6 reb, 1 blk
• Amy Thompson: 7 pts, 2 ast
• Alanis Diaz: 6 pts, 1 reb, 3 ast
• Brooklynn Butler: 5 pts, 9 reb, 4 ast
• Olivia Davis: 3 pts, 3 reb, 4 ast, 2 stl

TEAM STATS

• Field Goal Percentage: 50% (25–50)
• Three-Point Percentage: 9% (1–11)
• Free Throws: 76% (19–25)
• Rebounds: 34
• Off the Bench: 19 (27%)
• Points in the Paint: 40 (57%)

UP NEXT

Tampa will hit the road for a rivalry face-off at Florida Southern on Saturday, February 21 at 4:00 p.m., followed by another road trip to Saint Leo on Wednesday, February 25 at 5:30 p.m.