Messina-Cook Show Leads Tampa To SSC Semifinals

TAMPA, Fla. - Gianna Messina and Tiara Cook each enjoyed a starring half to lead the No. 16 University of Tampa (25-3) women's basketball team over Nova Southeastern University (11-17) in the 2010 Blue Cross Blue Shield Sunshine State Conference tournament quarterfinals. The Spartans won by an 84-46 score.

Messina was 6-for-7 from 3-point range in the first half, where she scored 21 of her game-high 24 points. After Nova netted the first basket, UT responded with eight unanswered and never trailed for the remainder of the contest. The Spartans led by as many as 15 points in the opening frame before taking a 40-27 advantage to the half.

Cook scored 14 of her 18 points in the second half as the Spartans ran away, taking a 20 point lead at 53-33 with 14:14 to play in regulation. Tampa led by as many as 38 points as a total of nine Spartans entered the scoring column.

Joining Messina and Cook in double figures were Taja Green and Sarah Wickham with 14 and 11 points respectively. Cook also led UT with nine rebounds as Angela Guiu added a team-high eight assists.

Caitlyn Mitryk led Tampa defensively with four blocked shots while Guiu tallied two steals. Tampa, who shot 50.8 percent from the field, held the Sharks to a 25.4 clip.

Tampa, the No. 1 seed, will meet No. 5 Lynn University on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. The semifinals and finals will be hosted in Fort Lauderdale by Nova Southeastern. Live stats and a webcast will be available through www.tampaspartans.com.

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