November Morton scored a career-high 22 points for the Panthers in Saturday’s 60-56 Sunshine State Conference loss at Lynn. The win was the eighth straight for the Fighting Knights. 

The Panthers (5-10, 1-6 SSC) committed 21 turnovers and Lynn scored 28 points off those turnovers. Inthe end, that was the difference in the contest. 

Florida Tech ended the day 24-for-60 from the field, good for 40 percent, but after ending the first half 2-of-4 behind the arc, they were a disappointing 1-of-8 in the second half. 

Lynn jumped out to an 11-2 lead in this one, but five straight points by Morton closed the gap to 11-7. She would answer a Lynn three with one of her own and get the Panthers to within four, 14-10. Baskets by Aniquah Swan and Michaela Gelbaugh closed the quarter for the Panthers and cut the Lynn lead to 20-17. 

Morton would give the Panthers their first lead of the game with 8:18 to go in the half when she hit a layup to make it 23-22. After a three by Lynn, Morton would score four straight points to give the Panthers a 29-26 lead. She would finish the half with 18 and send the Panthers to the locker room, up 33-30 at the half. 

Lynn struggled in the third quarter and the Panthers were able to take advantage. The Panthers ended the quarter on a 7-0 run and the Fighting Knights went scoreless over the final 5:06, helping Florida Tech widen their lead 48-38. 

Unfortunately, as has happened a few times this season, the Panthers wilted in the fourth quarter. It took them 3:16 to score their first points, a bucket by Gudlaug Juliusdottir, making it 50-44 Panthers. An 8-0 run by Lynn made it 52-52. 

Morton’s layup with 1:35 to go in the game tied the game at 56, but Lynn answered with a Jaylen Snipes hoop and the Fighting Knights hung on, despite missed layups by Kailyn Ebb with four seconds left and another by Gelbaugh with one second left. Morton’s three at the end of the game, also fell short. 

For more info: Florida Tech @ Lynn Box Score 

Florida Tech returns home on Wednesday to take on Embry-Riddle at the Clemente Center. Tip will be in the air at 5:30 p.m.