Florida Tech Women’s Basketball Suffers First Loss of Year, 71-67 to Puerto Rico-Bayamon

FORT MYERS, Fla. — The Florida Tech women’s basketball team suffered its first loss of the season, falling to Puerto Rico-Bayamon 71-67 on the final day
of the fourth annual Hillmyer-Tremont Classic hosted by Florida Gulf Coast University.

Florida Tech (2-1) owned the first half, racing out to a quick 5-0 lead and never relinquishing their advantage in the opening period. The Panther lead
would grow to a many as seven points, 31-24, with just over two minutes remaining in the half. Florida Tech held a 33-28 lead at the break.

Bayamon (1-1) started the second half on fire, opening the period with a 12-3 run over the first five minutes to take a 40-36 edge. Florida Tech managed to
regroup as the teams played nip-and-tuck basketball over the next 11 minutes. During that stretch, the score was tied on nine different occasions, with
Florida Tech leading by no more than five points and Bayamon taking a lead no greater than two points.

Florida Tech’s sophomore Tenisha Chase (Temple Hills, Md.) hit the second of two free throw attempts to tie the game at 62-62 with 2:56 to play, but it was
all Bayamon after that point, as the Cowgirls outscored the Panthers 9-5 down the stretch to seal the 71-67 victory. Tech managed to score just one field
goal in the final three and one half minutes of the game.

Junior Kristina Harrell (Melbourne, Fla.) scored 14 points, including a perfect eight-for-eight showing from the free throw line to lead Florida Tech in
scoring for the second straight game. Fellow Junior Danielle Vaughn (Tallahassee, Fla.) added 11 points and just missed a double-double with a team-high
nine rebounds. Chase added eight points and dished out a game-best six assists.

Puerto Rico-Bayamon’s Pamela Roman led all scorers with 27 points.

The Panthers will try to exact a measure of revenge, when they host Puerto Rico-Bayamon Tuesday night at the Clemente Center. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00
p.m.