WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – The University of Tampa women’s basketball team fought to the finish against Palm Beach Atlantic, but secured the victory on a last-second post move from Dori Nagy. 

INSIDE THE MATCHUP: 
Final Score: Tampa 57, Palm Beach Atlantic 54
Records: University of Tampa Spartans (16-6, 10-4 SSC), Palm Beach Atlantic Sailfish (3-16, 1-12 SSC)
Location: Rubin Arena || West Palm Beach, Fla.
All-Time Series: The Spartans own the series 24-3 as UT has won the last six games.

HOW IT HAPPENED:
1st Quarter | The Spartans began the contest with an eight-point advantage as Nagy started the scoring with a lay-up. Julia Ingram followed up with back-to-back three pointers for UT. Emily Eshoo assisted on the first two baskets of the evening. The Spartans enforced the defense early-on with a zone attack as UT logged seven points off turnovers. Palm Beach Atlantic shot 3-for-11 in the opening period, and went scoreless for over five minutes. PBA’s leading scorer, Jonika Garvin, registered two fouls early in the first quarter. Tampa lead 14-6 entering the second quarter of basketball. 

2nd Quarter | Tampa’s offense slowed down, in part to six turnovers which led to eight PBA points. The two teams combined to shoot 10-for-29 from the field in the second quarter. Tampa limited the Sailfish to one made three-pointer in the half, as PBA shot 1-of-10 from deep. Tampa led the entire half, as Ingram and Staja Tyghter scored eight points apiece in the first 20 minutes of play. In the first half, Nagy led the team with three steals and five rebounds. Heading to halftime, UT led 24-18 over Palm Beach Atlantic.

3rd Quarter | Nagy dominated in the third quarter, logging 11 points. Ingram chipped in a long-range jumper and dished out two assists. The Spartans shot 52.9% from the field, while PBA went 6-for-17 (35.3%). Tampa tallied eight points in the paint, as freshman Melijah Sullivan drove to the basket for two scores. Mina Salhia led the Sailfish with 10 points in the third quarter.

4th Quarter | Palm Beach Atlantic cut the lead to 52-51 with a minute remaining on a three-pointer from Claudia Charles. With the clock counting down, Tyghter drove to the basket and was fouled by Charles. The senior from Orlando knocked down both free-throws to extend the lead to 54-51. Last week’s SSC Player of the Week, Garvin, was fouled with 35 seconds remaining and converted the “and-one” opportunity to tie the game at 54. With the game tied up, Nagy worked a spin move in the low-post and was fouled on the made basket. The sophomore from Hungary stepped to the charity stripe and cashed the free-throw. 

INSIDE THE STATS:

• Nagy has scored at least 20 points in back-to-back games, including the game-winner in consecutive games. 
• Nagy has recorded at least three steals in consecutive games. 
• This was the 12th game in which Ingram has drained multiple three-pointers. The sophomore is shooting 41.3% from long-range, which would rank in the Top 30 nationally but her 4.2 attempts per game does not reach the 5-shot minimum. 

BEYOND THE BOX:

• The Spartans have been out-scored in the fourth quarter in 11 games this season. 

UP NEXT: The University of Tampa will host Florida Tech this Saturday as tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m. at the Martinez Center. 

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