Spartans Defeat Saint Anselm Behinds Piller's 1,000th Point

TAMPA, Fla. – The No. 8 Tampa Spartans dominate in win against Saint Anselm behind Piller's 1,000^th point.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP

Final Score:  No. 8 Tampa Spartans 76, Saint Anselm Hawks 47

Records: Tampa (12-2, 3-0 SSC), Saint Anselm (4-6, 2-3 NE-10) 

Location: Bob Martinez Athletics Center | Tampa, Fla.

All-Time Series: Spartans tie the series up at one apiece between Saint Anselm.

HOW IT HAPPENED

1st QUARTER

Zoe Piller opened the scoring for the Spartans with the game's first four points. After the Hawks tied it up at 4, The Spartans closed out the rest of the quarter, going on an 18-2 run to take a 16-point lead heading into the second quarter. All five Tampa starters found the back of the net in the first. | Score: 22-6 Tampa

2nd QUARTER

Mya Giusto would score the Spartan's first four points to open the second. After some back-and-forth scoring from the two teams, Audra Leipold would get a wide-open look for a layup to put the Spartans up 20 to force a Saint Anselm timeout. Tampa and a late second layup by Leipold would extend the Spartan lead to 25 heading into the half. | Score: 43 -18 Tampa

3rd QUARTER

After the Hawks came out of the half with the first five points, Tampa responded with an 8-0 run to go up 28. The Hawks would eventually cut their deficit to twenty with a little over a minute left in the third. | Score: 57-37 Tampa

4th QUARTER

The deficit was too large for the Hawks to overcome as the Spartans stretched their lead to twenty-nine with five minutes remaining in the game. | Score: 76-47 Tampa

BEHIND THE STATS

• Piller leads the away for the Spartans with 22 points, 7 boards, and an assist.
• Kath Van Bennekom, Sarah Jones, and Giusto all with double figures points.
• Spartans shoot 52.5% from the floor.

UP NEXT: The University of Tampa Spartans will have ten days off before they travel to Boca Raton for their second road conference matchup against Lynn on Saturday, Dec. 30, at 2:00 P.M.