Tampa Women's Basketball Defeats Florida Tech With Statement Win

Tampa, Fla.  – The University of Tampa women's basketball team, behind Dori Nagy's 22 point double-double and great defensive play, down the Florida Tech Panthers to continue their histroric season

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:

Final: #13 Tampa 83, Florida Tech 55  

Records: University of Tampa Spartans (20-3, 17-0 SSC), Florida Tech Panthers (12-14,8-10 SSC)

Location: Bob Martinez Athletic Center | Tampa, Fla.

All-time Series: The Spartans have a lead in the all-time series at 42-35. UT is currently on a five-game winning streak over the Panthers.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

1st Quarter | Tampa allowed twenty points in the first quarter behind five Panthers three pointers on seven attempts from behind the arc. In a back and forth quarter, the game was tied 11-11 with 2:03 left in the first ten minutes of play. Florida Tech went on a 6-0 run to lead Tampa 17-11 with 1:04 to go in the first quarter, and they extended to their largest lead of the game, seven, leading Tampa 20-13 with 26 seconds remaining. LaShayla Wright-Ponder made a lay-in with two seconds left to bring the Spartans to within five. She had four first quarter points along with four rebounds.  || Tampa 15, Florida Tech 20

2nd Quarter | The Spartans exploded offensively in the second quarter, scoring 34 points. Dori Nagy contributed 12 points in the quarter on 5-6 shooting. The Spartans took the lead at 8:57, with a score of 22-20, and never looked back. Tampa would not trail at any point for the remainder of the game. Tampa ended the half on an 8-0 run in the last 2:22.  || Tampa 49, Florida Tech 32

3rd Quarter | Nagy continued her offensive prominence in the third quarter, scoring an additional ten points. She also added four rebounds to extend her total to ten, securing herself a double-double with 19 seconds left to play in the quarter. The Spartans outrebounded the Panthers 12-5 in the third, controlling possession of the basketball. Tampa extended the lead to 20 plus points. || Tampa 67, Florida Tech 46

4th Quarter | Tampa held Florida Tech to under ten points in the fourth and firmly sealed the victory. Melijah Sullivan added six points in the quarter on 3-3 shooting to bring her total to 19 for the game. 11 different Spartants saw the floor in the final ten minutes of play. The Spartans went 4-4 from the free throw line in the final quarter, a factor which will be key moving forwards in postseason tournament style play.  || Tampa  83, Florida Tech 55

INSIDE THE STATS:

• Tampa outrebounded Florida Tech 46-25.

• UT shot 56.9% (33-58) from the field while holding Tech to 33.3% (22-66).

• Tampa scored 44 points in the paint compared to 18 for Florida Tech.

• The Spartans had 20 assists, assisting on 60.6% of all made baskets.

• Tampa had five players score in double figures (Nagy - 22, Sullivan - 19, Kris Nelson - 14, Wright-Ponder - 12, Aliyah Abney - 10).

BEYOND THE BOXSCORE:

• Tampa has now won 18 straight games, and they are undefeated since December, 2019.

• This is the second time all season that the Spartans have scored over 80 points (first was 12/7 versus Rollins).

• Both Dori Nagy (22 pts, 10 rebs) and LaShayla Wright-Ponder (12 pts, 11 rebs) recorded double-doubles.

   

UP NEXT: The Spartans will make a quick turnaround to play Barry University on Satuday in the Martinez Center. The game is scheduled for 2 p.m. Tampa defeated Barry 62-51 when they last played on 1/11 in Miami Shores. The Buccaneers are 8-16 (5-12 SSC) this season.

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