For the second straight night, the Florida Tech women’s team suffered a disheartening loss in the DII Coast to Coast Classic, losing to Simon Fraser 82-80 in overtime.
For the second straight night, Gracie Doane led the Panthers in scoring with 16, following up her 15-point performance in Friday’s loss to Alaska Anchorage. Kailyn Ebb finished with 15, and November Morton contributed 12.
Doane got the Panthers going with her first of five three-pointers on the night, knocking one down 19 seconds in. She would hit another just over a minute later, giving the Panthers a 6-3 lead. The rest of the quarter was pretty even, with Florida Tech leading 17-15.
The second quarter was the Panthers best of the night. Doane hit another three-pointer early and the Panthers started with a 10-1 run, capped by Morton’s three that made it a 31-18 lead for Florida Tech. They followed that up with a 9-4 run, making it 40-22 with 1:53 to go in the half.
Simon Fraser would score the final five points of the half, cutting it to a 13-point deficit.
To their credit, the Clan started to turn things around as the third quarter got underway. Tayler Drynanhit a three at the 5:14 mark and she would hit back-to-back threes with 1:20 and 48 seconds left, giving her team a 53-51 lead.
Doane would answer with another long ball of her own with 22 seconds left, giving the Panthers a 54-53 lead, heading into the fourth quarter.
The teams traded baskets early, but Simon Fraser used a three and a layup from Sophie Swant as a springboard to a 62-58 lead. A three by Morton with 6:15 to go tied things at 64. Things went back-and-forth from there, and a three from Amanda Allen tied things up at 71 with 2:56 to go in regulation. Both teams then proceeded to go ice cold and the horn sounded with the game still tied at 71.
A three by Jessica Jones would give the Clan a 76-74 lead with 3:58 to go and a shot by Gudlaug Juliusdottir would tie the game at 78 with 1:24 to go. Samantha Beauchamp would answer 19 seconds later, giving her team the lead.
The Panthers were then forced to foul and Drynan would hit two free throws with 17 seconds left, to make it a four-point game. Michaela Gelbaugh would lay one in at the buzzer, but it wasn’t enough, as the Panthers fell to 2-4.
For more info: Florida Tech @ Simon Fraser Box Score
Florida Tech returns home Saturday, Dec. 1, for their first conference game of the season, playing host to Eckerd College. The game is scheduled to tip at 2:00 p.m.