Header pic: Fanny Paulin – Credit: Florida Tech Athletics

The Florida Tech women’s basketball team lost their third straight game on Saturday, dropping a 65-45 decision to the Lynn Fighting Knights in Boca Raton.

“You gotta put the ball in the basket to win,” said Panthers coach John Reynolds by phone after the game. “I thought Lynn made the effort plays all day and we didn’t.”

Fanny Paulin was the only Florida Tech player in double figures with 12 points. Lina Stranger-Johannessen, Makyla Daniels, and Aiste Vaitekunaite all had seven points. Vaitekunaite led the team with seven rebounds, while Hannah Roney added seven assists. 

The Panthers (3-18, 1-15 SSC) were in the game in the first quarter. Vaitekunaite hit a three early and a hoop by Stranger-Johannessen gave the Panthers an 8-7 lead with 3:39 to go in the quarter. Paulin’s three with 2:06 left had the Panthers in front 13-10, but Lynn tied the score with 1:14 left and it was 13-13 at the end of the first quarter.

“We were tied, but we should have been up four or six,” said Reynolds. “We just didn’t shoot the ball well.”

The second quarter was tight throughout but Paulin put the Panthers up 21-16 with a three. Lynn answered when Dani Lozzi knocked one down with 6:44 left. Lynn led by five with 3:12 left before Daniels bucket cut it to 26-23. Lynn scored five straight before Roney’s layup made it 31-25 at the half.

The third quarter doomed the Panthers with Lynn winning the quarter 17-9. There was a 6-0 run in there for the Knights before Paulin’s three ended the quarter with the home team up 48-34 heading into the final 10 minutes.

Lynn 8-12, 6-10 SSC) started the final stanza with an 11-0 run that included three-pointers from Trinity Edwards and Rachel Romich, helping Lynn to a 59-35 lead with 6:52 left. Florida Tech answered with five in a row, three coming from the free-throw line. It was 59-39 with 3:54 left and the Fighting Knights maintained their 20-point lead, despite not scoring in the final 2:21 of the game. 

For more info: Florida Tech @ Lynn Box Score

“You can’t just want to win, you have to play to win and our effort was poor today,” Reynolds said. They were more aggressive and the more aggressive team won today.”

The Panthers return home Wednesday night to host Barry at 5:30 p.m.