WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - The Palm Beach Atlantic women's basketball team picked up its first Sunshine State Conference victory of the season tonight at home against Lynn 68-65. Early hot shooting from the 'Fish moved their record to 3-14 and 1-9 in SSC play against a Lynn team that is fourth in the conference with an 11-7 record overall. 

The 'Fish came out of the gates scorching from behind the three-point line, going 7-of-8 from three in the first quarter. Claudia Charles was the catalyst offensively going a perfect 3-of-3 from downtown. The Sailfish were able to jump to a 25-10 lead in the first quarter behind their hot shooting and defensively holding the Fighting Knights to 4-of-18 shooting. It was arguably the best PBA quarter of the season as the Sailfish were on fire from deep and committed zero turnovers.

The Sailfish followed up the strong first quarter with another strong offensive 10 minutes, outscoring Lynn 22-18 in the second quarter. Victoria Self provided a spark off of the Sailfish bench with six points and two assists in the second quarter where the Sailfish made two more threes to tie their season-high of nine in the first half. The Sailfish shot an incredible 82 percent from three in the first half and 48 percent overall to take a 47-28 lead into the half. 

The third quarter has been where the game has gotten away from the Sailfish in their previous two SSC contests, and tonight Lynn outscored the 'Fish 19-6 after the halftime break. Lynn's Sarah Baer punished the Sailfish inside scoring nine of her game-high 19 points. As good as the Sailfish offense was early, the shooting turned cold in the third quarter yet again going 2-of-12 from the floor. The big 19 point halftime lead was trimmed to six heading into the fourth quarter with the Sailfish in search of their first SSC victory.

While PBA struggled from the floor, they were able to get to the free-throw line and convert at an 81 percent rate, 21-of-26 from the stripe. Lynn opened the quarter on a 6-0 run to take its first lead of the game at the 7:47 mark in the fourth quarter. Down the stretch, Sia Williams and Avree Carpenter scored five each in the final quarter to give the Sailfish the edge. Despite shooting just 17 percent in the second half, the Sailfish were able to do just enough to pull out the three-point victory.

The Sailfish had three players score in double figures led by Sia Williams and Avree Carpenter scoring 14 and 17 respectively and Ciara Cumbie's 12 point and 11 rebound double-double. After making nine first-half three, PBA finished 9-for-18 in the contest. Lynn made seven more field goals in the game 27-of-64 to PBA's 19-of-54 shooting put the difference from behind the arc and at the free-throw line were the difference for the Sailfish. 

The Sailfish will look to build a conference winning streak when they travel to face Eckerd on Jan. 25. The Tritons defeated the Sailfish 88-59 earlier this season in West Palm Beach.