MIAMI SHORES, Fla. – The Barry University women’s basketball team had the start they wanted.
After building a 16-point halftime lead, the Bucs then watched as Tampa came back to force overtime and eventually defeat Barry in Sunshine State Conference play, 60-59, Saturday afternoon at the Health and Sports Center.
The Bucs (14-9, 5-7 SSC) came out full of emotion from the opening tip, as a three-pointer by Shanna Suttington nine minutes in had Barry ahead by eight.
The attack kept coming, as Kristy Singletary nailed a trey at the 7:30 mark to expand the lead to 14.
After Tampa (18-5, 8-4 SSC) chipped the lead down to 11, the Bucs would close the half with authority, as Lucy Martinez drove inside for a layup and ended the half with another layup in traffic to give the Bucs a 16-point spread at the break.
The second half continued to go in favor of the Bucs, as Barry even ballooned the lead to 18 just three minutes in on a jumper by Mariesa Greene.
The Spartans began their comeback with nine minutes to play in the game, as Sarah Wickham canned a trey to cut the lead to 10.
Wickham then followed that effort up with another three-pointer just 30 seconds later to make it a seven-point contest.
Barry would capitalize on a couple of offensive rebounds after missed free throws to help keep their lead at three with one-minute to play.
With the Bucs still ahead by two, the game looked to be in hand after the Spartans missed a three-point attempt and missed again on the follow shot, which left just five seconds on the clock.
After Greene split a pair of free throws at the line, the Spartans were faced with one finally heave down three.
Gianna Messina promptly carried the ball into the front court and after a pump-fake got her defender in the air, she let it fly from downtown in which she hit the shot at the buzzer sending the game to overtime.
Tampa quickly built a five-point lead in the extra session, but Barry cut the lead to two after Singletary hit a three with a minute to play.
Martinez then split a pair of free throws with five seconds left to make it a one-point game.
Tampa looked to run out the clock, but turned the ball over after Martinez’s made free throw, which gave the Bucs a chance for the win, but the following three-pointer by Martinez just missed as the buzzer sounded.
Greene just missed a double-double, as she tallied 19 points, nine rebounds and three steals. Martinez had a double-double with 11 points and 10 boards.
Gianna Messina came to life for the Spartans, as she led the team with 17 points and eight rebounds. Tiara Cooke tallied a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds.
Barry will return to action this Wednesday when they host Nova Southeastern beginning at 5:30 p.m.
Newspaper Box Score
Tampa vs Barry
02/14/09 2:00 pm at Health and Sports Center
At Health and Sports Center
TAMPA 60, BARRY 59
TAMPA (18-5, 8-4 SSC)
MESSINA, Gianna 6-15 2-3 17; COOK, Tiara 4-8 7-10 15; WICKHAM, Sarah 5-10
0-0 13; MITRYK, Caitlyn 3-7 0-0 7; GUIU, Angela 1-3 2-2 5; MASON, Lauren 1-5
0-0 2; SULLIVAN, Hailee 0-5 1-2 1; MESSINA, Catriana 0-4 0-0 0. Totals 20-57
12-17 60.
BARRY (14-9, 5-7 SSC)
GREENE, Mariesa 7-14 5-9 19; MARTINEZ, Lucy 4-15 2-4 11; SINGLETARY, Kristy
3-8 0-0 8; BAILEY, Princess 2-13 3-6 7; SUTTINGTON, Shanna 2-6 1-4 6;
PALMER, Kia 0-0 3-4 3; HENRI, Alexandra 1-2 0-0 3; SMITH, Raina 1-1 0-0 2;
O'MALLEY, Tara 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 20-59 14-27 59.
Tampa......................... 14 39 7 - 60
Barry......................... 30 23 6 - 59
3-point goals--Tampa 8-25 (WICKHAM, Sarah 3-4; MESSINA, Gianna 3-8; MITRYK,
Caitlyn 1-3; GUIU, Angela 1-3; MESSINA, Catriana 0-3; SULLIVAN, Hailee 0-4),
Barry 5-24 (SINGLETARY, Kristy 2-6; SUTTINGTON, Shanna 1-4; HENRI, Alexandra
1-2; MARTINEZ, Lucy 1-5; BAILEY, Princess 0-7). Fouled out--Tampa-COOK,
Tiara, Barry-PALMER, Kia. Rebounds--Tampa 40 (COOK, Tiara 11), Barry 44
(MARTINEZ, Lucy 10). Assists--Tampa 9 (MESSINA, Gianna 3), Barry 10
(MARTINEZ, Lucy 4). Total fouls--Tampa 19, Barry 18. Technical
fouls--Tampa-None, Barry-None. A-158