McCarthy Leads Panthers to SSC Basketball Victory




The Florida Tech Women’s basketball team picked up their first Sunshine State Conference win of the season, with a 65-58 victory over the Barry Buccaneers.

The game was tied at four early, but the Panthers went on an 11-point run, to take a 15-4 lead. After expanding the lead to 18-7, Florida Tech watched the Buccaneers rattle off 11 of their own, to tie the game at 18. Julie McCarthy’s layup at the end of the first quarter, gave the Panthers a 20-18 lead after the first 10 minutes.

“It’s a conference game and a big start just means we made our run first,” said Panthers coach John Reynolds. “You know conference teams are gonna make a run right back at ya, leads like that fall apart.”

McCarthy had a double-double in this game, with 10 of her 20 points coming in the first half. She also pulled down six offensive boards and 10 on the defensive glass.

“I thought Julie was really good today on both ends of the floor,” said Reynolds. “Kiara Palmer is averaging 16 points a game for Barry and she had six tonight and I thought that was because of Julie.”

Shequana Harris scored the first four points of the second quarter, upping the Florida Tech lead to six. Barry later tied the game at 26, before the Panthers went on a six-point run. Barry did score two baskets to end the half, but Florida Tech led 32-28.

The Buccaneers cut the lead to 32-31 early in the third, but Florida Tech maintained a six-point cushion through much of the period and outscored the visitors 23-16. Harris had a steal and a bucket, just as the third quarter was winding down, helping Florida Tech to a 55-44 lead, heading into the final 10 minutes.

DeLise Williams’ three-point play with 6:09 left in the fourth, got the lead back up to 58-51 for the Panthers and she made a nice up-and-under move moments later to take the lead to nine. Markeema Crawford’s three-ball 63-51.

I thought DeLise had a good night tonight,” Reynolds said. “She had a good night from the floor (13 points) and she defended well.”

Barry (2-2, 1-1 SSC) got back into it with a three-point play from Palmer, making it 63-58, but Michaela Gelbaugh, McCarthy and Harris all hit free-throws in the closing minutes to secure the win for Florida Tech.

For more info: Barry @ Florida Tech Box Score

The win moved the Panthers to 3-1 overall and 1-1 in the very tough Sunshine State Conference. “In this league, you can’t get too far behind,” Reynolds said. “I wouldn’t be surprised if the team that wins this league ends up with four, maybe five losses this year in conference play. That wouldn’t surprise me one bit.”

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