ST. LEO, Fla. - The Palm Beach Atlantic women's basketball team returned to Sunshine State Conference action tonight riding a two-game winning streak over two non-conference opponents before their Christmas break. The Sailfish fell behind early but they stormed back in the fourth quarter before running out of time and falling to Saint Leo 79-71. 

The Sailfish struggled in the first quarter as they mustered just ten points and shot 4-of-17 from the field. The 'Fish hit 1-of-6 from three while adversely, the Lions scored 25 points in the opening quarter going 9-of-15 from the field. After being off for 12 days during Christmas break, the Sailfish looked out of rhythm in the opening ten minutes. 

The PBA offense bounced back and looked solid in the second quarter as they scored 18 points and shot over 50 percent from the field. Six different Sailfish scored in the quarter as Kash Ayuso and Shekinah Guthrie led the 'Fish with seven and six points respectfully. PBA trailed Saint Leo 44-28 at the half and would need a big comeback to get back into the game. 

Having trailed by as much as 26 in the second quarter, the Sailfish never threw in the towel and battled back throughout the second half. They used a lot of energy full-court pressing the Lions throughout the second half and it seemed to spark PBA on both ends of the floor as they cut into the deficit. Ayuso and Sia Williams each scored six points in the third as PBA scored 20 points in the third quarter. The Lions' lead was still 18 points heading to the final quarter but the Sailfish would make it interesting down the stretch.

The Sailfish opened the second half on an 11-0 run to cut the lead to single digits. Ayuso scored ten points in the fourth quarter as PBA had the deficit down to six points with four minutes remaining. However, PBA looked like they might have run out of gas as the Lions answered with a run of their own to regain full control of the game. The Sailfish fight back was impressive but they ran out of time and energy and ultimately fell to the Lions by eight points.

PBA made two more field goals than the Lions as the Sailfish were 25-of-64 from the field but the Lions outscored the 'Fish from the free-throw line by nine points and shot 14 percent better from three. Ayuso scored a game-high 23 for the Sailfish and she pulled down 11 rebounds. Guthrie recorded a double-double of her own as she scored 11 points and recorded 12 rebounds. Kamryn Estell and Sia Williams each scored double-digits for PBA as Estell was an efficient 4-of-5 from the field and Williams was able to get to the line ten times.

Up next, the Sailfish will be on the road again this Sunday when they battle with the Tampa Spartans. The Spartans are one of the best teams in the conference and the country as they carry a 12-3 record and are 3-1 in SSC play.