Spartans Edged by SMSU in Top-25 Battle
DENTON, Texas – In a Top-25 matchup at the Texas Woman's Tipoff Classic, the No. 23 University of Tampa women's basketball team battled wire-to-wire with No. 18 Southwest Minnesota State, but the Mustangs used timely three-point shooting to edge out the Spartans, 63–62, on Saturday afternoon at Kitty Magee Arena. Following the conclusion of the Classic, Ryan Franklin was named to the Texas Woman's Tipoff Classic All-Tournament Team after another strong two-way performance.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Final Score: No. 18 Southwest Minnesota State 63, No. 23 Tampa 62
Records: Tampa (0–2), SMSU (1–1)
Location: Kitty Magee Arena | Denton, Texas
All-Time Series: First recorded meeting between the programs
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter
Tampa struck first behind senior center Ryan Franklin, who knocked down a short jumper on the opening possession for a 2–0 lead. Franklin went right back to work inside, but several early Spartan looks rimmed out as SMSU began heating up from the perimeter. Kylan Gerads and Audrey Swanson combined for a pair of back-to-back threes, giving the Mustangs a 6–2 advantage.
The Spartans responded as Olivia Davis drilled a mid-range jumper to cut the deficit in half, but SMSU continued to push tempo and hit from deep. A three from Nicole Maenke extended their lead to 9–4, and another Gerads triple made it 12–4 at the media break.
Tampa settled in as Franklin powered home a jumper in traffic and Alanis Diaz added a pair of free throws to pull the Spartans within 12–8. However, SMSU closed the quarter with a late surge including a layup off an offensive board to hold a 19–14 lead after one.
Second Quarter
Tampa found its rhythm offensively in the second. Giorgia Palmieri sparked the scoring with a top-of-the-arc three and followed moments later with another triple in transition, bringing the Spartans within one at 21–20. Franklin then took over inside, scoring three straight baskets in the post as Tampa briefly reclaimed a 25–24 lead.
The Spartans' perimeter defense tightened, and Diaz pushed tempo after a steal, finishing through contact to extend the lead. Tampa outscored the Mustangs 23–19 in the frame behind crisp ball movement and stronger rebounding, going into halftime down just one, 38–37.
Third Quarter
The third quarter turned into a defensive grind. Palmieri hit her third three of the afternoon to briefly put Tampa ahead, and Franklin added a turnaround jumper on the block. But SMSU countered with a nine-point burst from Gerads, including yet another deep three near the left wing.
Tampa continued to attack the paint, with Diaz converting at the rim and Franklin grabbing key rebounds, but the Mustangs' timely offensive rebounds created second-chance points that tilted momentum. After trading scores late, the Spartans trailed 50–48 heading to the fourth.
Fourth Quarter
The final quarter was a possession-by-possession battle. Diaz opened with two free throws to tie the game, and Amy Thompson buried a key wing three to keep Tampa within one. Franklin muscled in a putback to trim the SMSU lead to 61–60 with under a minute remaining.
Down two with the ball in the closing seconds, Tampa worked the play through Franklin, who drew contact in the lane. She converted the first free throw to make it 63–62 but the second rolled off the rim. Tampa forced a defensive stop with five seconds left and pushed the ball up the floor, but a contested jumper at the buzzer was just off target.
INSIDE THE STATS
- Ryan Franklin led the Spartans with 17 points, 6 rebounds, and a team-best interior defensive presence.
- Giorgia Palmieri scored 19 points on 8-of-12 shooting, including 3-of-4 from deep, while grabbing 6 rebounds.
- Alanis Diaz added 15 points and 7 rebounds, attacking the rim throughout.
- Tampa shot 52% from the field and 40% from three, but SMSU's 13 made threes were the difference.
- Following the two-game showcase in Denton, Ryan Franklin was named to the Texas Woman's Tipoff Classic All-Tournament Team, averaging 17.5 points and 7.5 rebounds over the weekend.