Thompson Helps Panthers Outlast Tampa

Ashle Thompson (#4) had a career-high 12 points on Wednesday - Credit: James Ragan Photography
Senior Ashle Thompson scored a career-high 12 points and pulled down seven boards on Wednesday, helping Florida Tech beat Tampa 58-54 in a Sunshine State Conference battle at the Clemente Center.

Thompson, who scored a total of 15 points last season, took advantage of the opportunity she was afforded Wednesday night, getting the start and paying big dividends. She was 6-of-7 from the floor.

“I’m really proud of her, but more importantly, I’m happy for her,” said Florida Tech coach John Reynolds. “I am happy for a senior who has been a role player for four years and has seen limited action. Over the last couple weeks, she just decided she was gonna go out and have fun and tonight, she had fun.”

Thompson scored 10 of her 12 points in the second half, when the Panthers scored 36 as a team. This despite Florida Tech being without the services of Amanda Allen (sprained ankle) and Julie McCarthy. While Reynolds did not get into specifics with McCarthy’s situation, he did offer an explanation.

“Julie is an exceptional kid, a great kid and I love her,” said Reynolds. “We have some expectations and even a good kid… a great kid, is gonna make a bad decision at some point in their career and I think she made a bad decision. The best part about tonight was, we got to win and Julie didn’t have to feel guilty, her mistake didn’t beat us twice.”

The game got off to a slow start, with the Panthers holding a 10-9 lead after the first quarter. Markeema Crawford scored five of the Panthers 10 points and finished with seven.

Michaela Gelbaugh and Tampa’s Elena De Alfredo traded two threes’ each early in the quarter and Gelbaugh’s second three tied the game at 16. Thompson hit a jumper, giving the Panthers a 20-19 lead with two minutes left in the half. DeLise Williams added two free-throws, giving the Panthers a slim 22-19 lead at the half.

Florida Tech (12-13, 7-10 SSC) started the third quarter on a 12-4 run, highlighted by a steal and a bucket by Crawford with 6:51 to go in the third. The Panthers led by 11, 34-23, with 3:41 to go in the third.

The Spartans (15-10, 10-7 SSC) went on a run of their own that included three-pointers from De Alfredo and Morgan Lumb, cutting the lead to 34-32 with 2:06 to go. The teams traded buckets the rest of the way and the Panthers led 39-37 as the third quarter buzzer sounded.

A three by De Alfredo early in the third made it 41-40 Panthers and Tampa took a 44-43 with 7:21 to go and were up 48-45 at one point. The nip-and-tuck nature of the quarter continued and the game was tied at 51, with 3:13 to go.

A basket by Thompson and free-throws by Crawford made it a 55-51 game, before Lumb hot another three-ball to cut the lead to one, with 1:42 to go. Lumb finished with a game-high 18 points. Thompson hit a jumper with 47 seconds left, to seal the deal for the Panthers.

For more info: Tampa @ Florida Tech Box Score

The Panthers shot 62.5 percent in the second half and 46 percent for the game and out rebounded the Spartans 28-26. They also played some defense, forcing 12 turnovers.

“We were probably more patient and moved the ball against the zone, better tonight than we had all year,” said Reynolds. “We shot the ball in our range and we were patient.”

Florida Tech finishes the regular season Saturday, hosting Palm Beach Atlantic on Senior Day. Tip-off is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.



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