LAKELAND, Fla. - The Palm Beach Atlantic women's basketball team fell 79-37 against Florida Southern on the road this afternoon. The game was tight at the half before the Sailfish offense stagnated in the second half as they struggled with turnovers and shooting from the field. PBA falls to 2-14 with the defeat and the Moccasins move to 10-7 and into second place in the SSC standings.

The Sailfish starters got off to a cold shooting performance in the first quarter against the Mocs. The 'Fish were scoreless the first 3:30 of the game until Aniyah Ross and Kennedi Rodgers came off of the bench to give the Sailfish offense a spark. Even with the bench production, the Sailfish fell behind with sloppy turnovers, committing seven in the first ten minutes. Florida Southern took advantage of the extra possessions going 7-of-19 from the floor in the first quarter while PBA only took nine field goal attempts and made four. 

After trailing 17-12 after the first quarter, the Sailfish cranked up the defense to win the second quarter 13-12. Kennedi Rodgers led PBA, scoring nine points and pulling down five rebounds in the first half. The Mocs were led by forward Katerina Pazzaglia-Khomenko who scored seven points on 3-of-5 shooting. Both teams were 5-of-15 shooting in the second quarter and Sailfish trailed 29-25 heading into the break. 

PBA had to be satisfied being within striking distance on the road against a team near the top of the SSC standings, however, for the second game in a row, the Sailfish came out of the locker room ice cold from the floor. PBA led by five at the half against Nova Southeastern on Wednesday but were held to five points in the third quarter. Tonight against the Mocs, PBA was held to four points in the third quarter after shooting 1-of-9. PBA was held to a season-low 12 points in a half during the final 20 minutes tonight shooting just 18 percent. The Sailfish didn't help its cause by committing 17 turnovers in the half and finishing with 28 in the game.

While the Sailfish offense disappeared, the Moccasins scored 25 points in the third and the fourth quarter to pull away. Florida Southern was 15-of-27 from the floor and 18-of-22 from the line in the second half to turn a game that was close throughout the first half into a runaway victory. Pazzaglia-Khomenko finished with 16 to lead the Mocs while three players scored in double figures. No players reached double digits for the Sailfish as Rodgers led the team with nine and Victoria Self scored seven points.

The Sailfish will look to get four consistent quarters and pick up their first SSC victory on Wednesday when they host Lynn at Rubin Arena. The Fighting Knights are 11-6 and 6-3 in SSC play so far this year.