Eutectics see game vs Florida Memorial slip away in 4th Q

WEST PALM BEACH, FL – A tight game through three turned in favor of Florida Memorial in the fourth quarter as the Lions dominated in the final quarter to send UHSP to an 0-2 Thanksgiving trip with a 64-53 win. FMU hauled down 14 rebounds in the fourth quarter alone and went 8-for-19 from the floor in the quarter, holding the Eutectics to just three field goals in the period as they outscored UHSP 21-9 in the final stanza.

GAME HIGHLIGHTS:

FLORIDA MEMORIAL 64, UHSP 53

• Analyssa Maldonado knocked down a three with 4:22 left in the first to put UHSP up 13-7 in what turned out to be their largest lead of the game. Alicia Bates drilled a three at the buzzer to give Florida Memorial a 17-16 lead after one as FMU capped the period on a 10-3 run. Closing quarters was an issue for UHSP in both games in Florida as they suffered the same issues the day before against Keiser.
• Things stayed tight throughout the second quarter as the Lions outscored the Euts 17-14 to lead 34-30 at the half. UHSP kept it close by forcing FMU into eight turnovers in the quarter. Alise Milenberga scored nine of her team-high 13 points in the second period going 4-for-7 from the floor. Just 1:36 into the period Milenberga hit a layup that briefly knotted things at 20-20, but UHSP never led in the quarter.
• Early in the third, FMU extended the lead to seven at 39-32 midway through the quarter. The Eutectics went on a 10-0 run as Montasia McAllister made a jumper with 2:18 to go to put UHSP on top 40-39 and then Alina Bowden hit a pair of foul shots to make it a 42-39 advantage with 1:25 left. A Faith O'Handley layup finished the scoring for the Euts in the quarter as they held a 44-43 lead after three.
• McAllister made a three 3:45 into the fourth to bring UHSP to within one at 50-49. FMU went on a 9-1 run over the next 1:55 to lead 59-50, a deficit too much for UHSP to overcome with less than two minutes left.
• Eutectic starters Analyssa Maldonado and Alina Bowden also added double figures for UHSP scoring 11 points and ten respectively.
• Sa'mya Stevens was the game's leading scorer coming off the FMU bench to record a double-double with 17 points and 14 rebounds. Kalea Rainey added 15 points.
• Reece Halley led the Euts on the glass with eight boards, but the team got outrebounded by eight 46-38.
• The game featured two ties and six lead changes.

NEXT UP:

UHSP (2-6) has two more on the road before their next home game on December 15 as they play their AMC opener on December 6 at Central Baptist (2-5) at 1:00p. After that, it will be a visit to Missouri Valley on December 11 before Mission comes to the UHSP Gymnasium four days later.