MIAMI SHORES, Fla.—Saturday’s Sunshine State Conference women’s basketball matchup in the Health & Sports Center features two teams heading in opposite directions when the Barry Buccaneers host the Saint Leo Lions.
The Bucs (8-3, 1-1 SSC) have won four in a row and eight of their last nine after starting the season 0-2 against a pair of Top 25 opponents at the NSU Tipoff Tournament. The Lions (10-3, 1-2 SSC) started out the season with a 10-game winning streak, but have now lost their last three in a row.
Tyler Hardy leads the Bucs as the top scorer in the SSC at 20.3 points per game. Her all-around play also includes 8.6 rebounds per game (SSC rank – 3rd), 56.7 field goal percentage (4th), and 77.3 free throw percentage. Living up to her spot on the SSC All-Newcomer Team a year ago, Hardy has won the last two Player of the Week awards.
Colette Eule chips in with 13.5 points (9th), 4.0 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game, while point guard Ines Kerin has been the best in the conference with a 2.2 assist/turnover ratio while scoring 9.2 points per game.
For the Lions, Teresa Manigrasso, a 5-8 senior guard, leads the team at 16.4 points per game (4th in SSC). Six-foot senior forward Chelsea Williams chips in 15.0 points per game (6th) and 6.8 rebounds. Chelsea Connolly leads the team with 8.0 rebounds per game (6th).
The women tip off following the men’s game, at approximately 4:00 pm.