MELBOURNE, Fla. - The Palm Beach Atlantic women's basketball team was back in action today against Florida Tech for the first time since its loss at home to Eckerd eleven days ago. The Sailfish fell in a back-and-forth game against the Panthers 64-60 in Melbourne. 

Junior guard Sia Williams scored over 20 points for the second time this season while leading the Sailfish tonight with 21 points on 7-of-12 shooting and 4-of-5 from three. Backcourt mate Claire Bady stuffed the stat sheet adding 12 points, six rebounds, and four assists. 

Florida Tech was led by senior Aniquah Swan's 19 points and 14 rebounds who helped the Panthers move to 5-3 on the season with the victory. 

After a sloppy start, the Sailfish answered the Panthers opening 7-0 run with a 7-0 run of their own to tie the game. Palm Beach Atlantic led 18-17 after the first quarter where they shot 61 percent from the field and held the Panthers to 21 percent shooting. Florida Tech was kept in the game early by Sailfish giveaways. They were able to turn the Sailfish over 8 times in the first quarter and 19 times for the game where they scored 25 points off of those turnovers.

The Sailfish mixed in some zone defense tonight and were able to hold Florida Tech 33 percent shooting and 17 percent from three, but the Panthers were able to make up for their poor shooting by securing 19 offensive rebounds to create extra shot opportunities. PBA shot 42 percent from the floor tonight and 8-of-20 from three. 

The Sailfish took a 60-59 lead on a Sia Williams layup with 1:40 remaining, but the Panthers answered with a three-point play and two late free-throws to ice the game. Leading scorer Avree Carpenter, who was held to ten points on 4-of-10 shooting, and Kennedi Rodgers were unable to connect on late three-pointers and the Sailfish fell to 1-7 on the season and 0-2 in SSC play.

Up next, the Sailfish face Bethune-Cookman in an exhibition game on Saturday in Daytona Beach before continuing conference play at Embry-Riddle on Dec. 14.