MIAMI SHORES, Fla.—Nyjah Porcher converted a three-point play with nine seconds left to lead the Barry Buccaneers to a 68-67 win over the Saint Leo Lions in the Sunshine State Conference women’s basketball opener for both teams on Saturday in the Health & Sports Center.
The Lions (4-2, 0-1 SSC) led the majority of the game, taking a 10-9 lead with 13:36 left in the first half on a free throw by Monique Bunk. They pushed the lead to as many as 11 points, including 33-22 with 3:19 remaining in the half, before taking a 35-30 lead into the break.
In the second half, the Bucs (5-2, 1-0 SSC) battled back, but did not get even until a jumper by Amra Elezovic tied the game at 58-58 with 5:29 remaining. Porcher gave the Bucs their first lead since early in the first half at 61-58 with 3:32 left.
After Chachi Guzman gave the Lions a 67-63 lead with 0:35 second left, the Bucs scored the final five points. Emily Schahczinski had a put-back to trim the lead to 67-65, then after a Lion miss, Porcher connected in the lane to tie the game, and was fouled by Guzman. Porcher hit the free throw to put Barry back up by one and the Lions failed to get off a shot at the buzzer.
Schahczinski scored a career-high 16 points and added eight rebounds and three assists, including one on Porcher’s game-winning drive. Porcher and Jackie Perez each scored 15 points and Porcher grabbed a career-high 18 rebounds. Elezovic came off the bench to add 11 points.
The Lions only had five players score, but each had double-figures. Melissa Jackson scored a game-high 20 points and Bunk added 16. Guzman had 11 and Kinara Lewis and Maggie Flynn each had 10.
The Bucs are off for the next 10 days for exam week, but come back to the HSC on Tuesday, Dec. 16 to face Daemen in the Cruzin Classic.
Newspaper Box Score
Saint Leo vs Barry
12/06/14 2:00 pm at Miami Shores, FL
BARRY 68, SAINT LEO 67
SAINT LEO (4-2, 0-1 SSC)
JACKSON, Melissa 7-12 5-6 20; BUNK, Monique 6-9 3-6 16; GUZMAN, Chachi 5-12 1-1 11; FLYNN, Maggie 4-8 0-0 10; LEWIS, Kinnara 4-7 0-2 10; PETERSON, Abby 0-0 0-0 0; RAMIREZ, Aaliyah 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 26-49 9-15 67.
BARRY (5-2, 1-0 SSC)
SCHAHCZINSKI, Emily 8-15 0-0 16; PEREZ, Jackie 5-10 1-1 15; PORCHER, Nyjah 5-17 3-3 15; ELEZOVIC, Amra 5-13 1-2 11; LUTZ, Ashley 2-4 0-0 5; RICHARDSON, Lynae 1-6 2-2 4; NEIBLER, Antonia 1-3 0-0 2; BRITTEN, Kaila 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 27-68 7-8 68.
Saint Leo..................... 35 32 - 67
Barry......................... 30 38 - 68
3-point goals--Saint Leo 6-17 (FLYNN, Maggie 2-4; LEWIS, Kinnara 2-3; BUNK, Monique 1-3; JACKSON, Melissa 1-3; GUZMAN, Chachi 0-4), Barry 7-15 (PEREZ, Jackie 4-6; PORCHER, Nyjah 2-3; LUTZ, Ashley 1-2; NEIBLER, Antonia 0-1; RICHARDSON, Lynae 0-1; ELEZOVIC, Amra 0-2). Fouled out--Saint Leo-None, Barry-None. Rebounds--Saint Leo 26 (JACKSON, Melissa 9), Barry 43 (PORCHER, Nyjah 18). Assists--Saint Leo 10 (BUNK, Monique 3; GUZMAN, Chachi 3), Barry 16 (RICHARDSON, Lynae 3; SCHAHCZINSKI, Emily 3; PEREZ, Jackie 3; LUTZ, Ashley 3). Total fouls--Saint Leo 12, Barry 13. Technical fouls—Saint Leo-None, Barry-None. A-279