Tech Downs Rio Piedras in Day One of the 2005 Thanksgiving Classic
MELBOURNE, Fla. -The Florida Tech Panthers (4-1) still managed to shut down the University of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras Jerzanas (0-4) 74-48 despite being
shy of four key players for Tech. Seniors’ Danise Fequiere (Miami, Fla.) and Danielle Quinn (Cocoa Beach, Fla.) along with junior 2004-2005 leading scorer
Jen Tamilio (Salem, Mass.) and sophomore newcomer Megan McCartney (Melbourne, Fla.) due to injury and eligibility issues. Fequiere, McCartney and Quinn are
looking to return next week possibly, while Tamilio may not be back until the end of December.
The Panthers played the earlier game at the 2005 Florida Tech Thanksgiving Classic at a 2:00 p.m. tip-off in the Clemente Center. While Sunshine State
Conference rival Rollins College was the home team in their 65-38 win against the University of Puerto Rico Mayaguez in the 4:00 game.
Leading all scorers for day was first year Panther junior guard Danielle Vaughn (Tallahassee, Fla.) with 16 points hitting 5-out-of-10 from the field.
Vaughn also led the Panthers in rebounds grabbing seven rebounds and adding two assists and two steals.
Despite the win, Tech was out hustled under the boards allowing the Jerzanas to notch 43 rebounds to the Panthers 39 rebounds for the game. Tech was able
to force 28 turnovers in which they scored 21 of their points, while the Lady Gamecocks only scored 10 points off Tech’s 15 turnovers for the contest.
The Panthers were also not consistent from the line shooting a disappointing 60.5% to the Jerzanas 84.6%. Tech did out shoot Rio Piedras from the field
with 40.4 % to a low 24.5% by the Jerzanas.
In the first five minutes of the game, the Jerzanas managed to tie the game at 6-6 with 15:11 on the clock off a lay-up by sophomore guard Tatiana de la
Paz (San Juan, Puerto Rico). Sophomore forward Kassie Crimi (Jordan, Minn.) answered back for the Panthers with a lay-up at 14:47 pushing the Panthers to
never give up the lead again.
The Lady Gamecocks starting line-up produced 33 of their 38 points while 37 of Tech’s points came from the bench came from the Bench personnel as Head
Coach John Reynolds was once again able to play his full roster.
Sophomore center Jessica Perez (Guaynabo, Puerto Rico) was the only player to have double double in the game leading her team with 12 points and ten
rebounds. De la Paz finished with 11 points and four steals.
Crimi notched a career high with three blocks and added six points, four assists and three rebounds and was also the only Panther to finish perfect at the
line going 2-for-2. Sophomore guard Tenisha Chase (Temple Hills, Md.), freshman guard Kailey Dettman (Sarasota, Fla.) and sophomore forward Amanda Muns
(Chico, Tex.) each tallied eight points. Muns added five rebounds with two from the arc, while Chase has four assists and five steals.
The Panthers will face the University of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras in the final game of the 2005 Thanksgiving Classic at 4:00 p.m. while Rollins will play
Puerto Rico Mayaguez in game three at a 2:00 p.m. tip-off tomorrow.