Florida Tech turned the ball over 23 times against Lynn on Saturday, and that was too much to overcome as the Panthers fell 66-58 in a Sunshine State Conference women’s game at the Clemente Center.
“I don’t think we played with enough spirit and enough emotion,” said Panthers head coach John Reynolds. “Are you gonna beat anybody turning the ball over 23 times? And how many of them were unforced?”
The Panthers turnover problems plagued them throughout, as they were down 20-17 after one quarter, and trailed 35-29 in a first half that saw 13 of those turnovers.
That said, the Panthers hung around, leading 8-2 early, and 15-10, before Lynn went on a bit of a run to take the quarter.
Lynn led throughout the second quarter, with the high-water mark being 11, 35-24 with 3:15 to go. A three by Fanny Hakanson cut it to eight with just under 3:00 left, and Makayla Daniels got a layup to go just ahead of the buzzer.
“As bad as we just played, it was a six-point game,” said Reynolds. “I think we got to a point that we were just going through the motions.”
It looked like Florida Tech (5-4, 1-2 SSC) was turning the corner in the third quarter. They started in a 10-point hole after Lynn scored four straight, but Amanda Allen and Hakanson traded buckets for the Panthers, and just like that, it was 41-38 Lynn with 4:35 to go.
Allen would hit a three moments later to cut the deficit to two, 43-41 before Hakanson’s hoop tied the game with 2:47 left in the quarter. Cheyenne Scott was fouled on a made basket, and the Panthers led 48-44 at the end of the third quarter. They outscored Lynn 19-9 in the frame, with Hakanson putting up nine. She led the Panthers in scoring, finishing with 20.
Lynn went on a 6-0 run to start the fourth to regain the lead 50-48. Fanny Paulin hit a three to put the Panthers up by one, followed by Aniquah Swan hitting two free throws, to make it 53-50. Swan finished with 12 points, but things went south from there for Florida Tech.
The Fighting Knights ripped off six straight before Allen knocked down three of her 10 points to tie the game at 56. A 7-0 run by Lynn followed, as they outscored the Panthers 13-3, and led 63-56.
“We turned it over five straight times with under three minutes to go,” said Reynolds. “You can’t beat anybody doing that.”
That spelled the end for the Panthers, as they were forced to foul, and Lynn took home the victory.
For more info: Lynn @ Florida Tech Box Score
The Panthers will have nine days to think about this one, as they do not play again until December 16, at Barry. That game will tip-off at 5:30 p.m.