MIAMI SHORES, Fla. – Barry University’s women’s basketball squad returned to Sunshine State Conference action Saturday with at 72-67 win over Eckerd at the Health and Sports Center.
Barry (13-9, 5-7 SSC) shot the ball extremely well from the floor (44%) and at the line (76%) and needed a balanced scoring attack to fend off a late rally to sink the Tritons.
The Buccaneers led by seven points at the half, but used a 13-2 run, capped off by a Colette Eule fast-break layup, to open up an 18 point lead in the first five minutes of the second half.
The Tritons (9-12, 2-9 SSC) chipped away at the deficit and trailed by eight with just over six minutes to play. Eckerd would then go on a 10-2 run and tied the game at 67 on Ivana Grbic’s layup with 00:54 seconds to play.
Coach Bill Sullivan quickly called a timeout to regroup his team and put the ball in the hands of Tyler Hardy. The senior guard wasted little time and took the ball to the hoop for a layup to regain the lead for the Buccaneers with less than 30 seconds remaining in the game.
On the following possession the Tritons missed a go-ahead three-pointer. Alesha Jenkins grabbed her game-high 13th rebound and converted a pair of free-throws at the other end to ice the victory for the Buccaneers.
Jenkins led all five Buccaneer starters in double-figures with a 15-point, 13-rebound performance. Hardy and Eule each finished with 14 points, while Kaylia Richardson added 13 and Ines Kerin chipped in 12. Kerin also had seven assists.
Rana Thomas and Grbic led the Tritons with a pair of game-high 16 points, but Eckerd’s bid at a comeback fell short.
Barry returns to action at the Health & Sports Center Wednesday when the Buccaneers host Nova Southeastern University. Live Stat and video broadcast coverage will be available through Barry University’s athletics website, GOBARRYBUCS.COM.