#14 Spartans Fall On The Road At Lynn

BOCA RATON, Fla. - For just this second time this season, The University of Tampa (13-2, 3-1 Sunshine State Conference) suffered a defeat in women's basketball action. On Saturday, the 14th-ranked Spartans were on the wrong end of a 52-50 decision at the hands of the Lynn University Fighting Knights (10-4, 2-2 SSC). Tampa's two losses have been by a combined three points.

The Spartans started out slowly and the hosts built up a six-point advantage seven minutes into the contest. However, Tiara Cook almost compiled a double-double in the first half (12 points and 9 rebounds, and Gianna Messina added eight first-stanza points as UT erased the deficit and carried a 30-25 lead into the break.

Tampa continued to push the lead out once the second half started and with 12:31 remaining in the contest, the visitors enjoyed a 41-31 advantage.

Lynn worked its way back into the game though thanks in part to a six-minute field goal drought for the Spartans, and a Fighting Knight 3-pointer at the 4:54 mark allowed LU to regain the lead.

With the hosts up by four, Cook snapped the streak of futility for Tampa by making a layup with 1:31 remaining. Following a pair of free throws by Lynn's Quanisha Dixon with 13 seconds left, Messina moved down the court and nailed a three while being heavily guarded to cut the deficit back to one with just eight seconds on the clock.

Dixon made the front end of a one-and-one on Lynn's ensuing possession but missed her second and Messina grabbed the final of her ten rebounds to give the Spartans the chance to pull off some last-second heroics.

It would not happen though as Angela Guiu's effort as time ran out just barely missed.

Cook and Messina both finished the contest with a double-double as Cook finished with 21 points and 14 rebounds while Messina added 14 points to her 10 boards. Messina also led UT with four assists.

For just the fourth time this season, the Spartans were outshot by their opponent as Lynn shot 36.7 percent compared to Tampa's 33.3 field goal percentage. UT is 2-2 in games in which it is outshot. Tampa did outrebound the Fighting Knights by a 39-33 clip.

The Spartans will look to bounce back from the loss when they take the short trip down to St. Petersburg to battle Eckerd. Game time is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.

UT will offer live stats and 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.