WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - The Palm Beach Atlantic women's basketball team returned to Rubin Arena for their home opener this evening against Florida Southern College. The Sailfish fell 71-60 to drop to 0-2 on the season with the defeat while the Mocs move to 2-2 on the season. 

The Sailfish entered tonight's game short-handed due to Covid-19 protocols as they were without two starters in leading scorer Avree Carpenter and leading rebounder Shekinah Guthrie. PBA was also missing two bench pieces in Gabriella Nazigian and Alisa Marlow. Despite coach Manisha Redus being forced into lineup changes, the Sailfish hung tight with Florida Southern in the first quarter behind four points from starting point guard Maria Benitez-Zayas and bench big Mariyah Fletcher who made her PBA career debut. The visitors were hitting early from three behind Mackenzie Steele's six points to take a 15-13 lead after the first quarter. 

Sia Williams scored six of her 10 points and Chelsea Aalim scored five of her team-high 15 in the second quarter to keep PBA within striking distance. The 'Fish shot 46 percent from the field in the first half and limited the Mocs to just 34 percent shooting, but FSC doubled PBA's three-pointers made with six. Southern began to take advantage of the offensive glass pulling down seven offensive rebounds in the second quarter. The shorthanded Sailfish trailed 34-28 at the half. 

The Sailfish offense cooled off in the third quarter as they shot 4-14 from the field, scoring 10 points. Maria Benitez-Zayas scored five of her 12 in the quarter and ran the show offensively for the 'Fish. To go along with her points, she finished with seven rebounds and three assists. 

Heading into the fourth quarter down 16, the Sailfish battled throughout the final 10 minutes cutting the deficit down to as low as 9 but were never able to get closer. The main catalysts for the Sailfish were Chelsea Aalim and Mariyah Fletcher off of the PBA bench scoring eight and six respectively in the final quarter. PBA was 7-of-10 from the field in the final ten minutes and held FSC to 35 percent shooting.

Julia Jenike led the Mocs with 17 points as the FSC shot 26-of-68 from the floor and 8-for-26 from three for the game. The Sailfish finished the game shooting 22-of-48 from the field and 3-of-10 from three. FSC turned 22 Sailfish turnovers into 17 points while PBA was able to force just 11 turnovers and convert them into 10 points. 

The Sailfish hope to get back to full strength before they return to action on Feb. 24 when they travel to face the Tampa Spartans at 6 pm. The Sailfish will look to pick up their first victory of the season while it will be the first contest for the Spartans.