SAINT LEO. Fla. - The Palm Beach Atlantic women's basketball team took the longest trip in the Sunshine State Conference today to face the Saint Leo Lions. After a slow start in the first half, the Sailfish battled their way back into the game and came up clutch in the fourth quarter to claim the 70-62 win to move to 4-2 overall and 2-1 in conference play.

The Sailfish offense has been humming the last few games but after a quick 8-2 lead, they cooled off on the road today with resulted in a 14-11 deficit after the first quarter. They were just 4-for-11 from the field and 1-of-6 from three in the opening ten minutes. Kash Ayuso was solid with an early five points and Jahnae Midget pitched in with three but the 'Fish trailed early.

The second quarter provided more of the same as the 'Fish scored 14 points led by Alma Danielsson with five points. With the offense not running at its top level, PBA was able to stay within striking distance with a solid defensive performance as they trailed by seven, 32-25 at the half.

The Sailfish looked like a different side in the second half as they came to life offensively by aggressively driving to the basket and getting to the free throw line consistently. The 'Fish attempted 30 free-throws in the second half alone and took advantage of their trips making 25. The Sailfish leaned heavily on their starting five as they all got into double-figures and PBA had just two bench points. Mariyah Fletcher led the attack for PBA as she finished with her second-straight double-double with 17 points and 14 rebounds. PBA tied the game up by outscoring the Lions 18-11 in the third.

The two sides went back and forth in the final quarter until it was the Sailfish who pulled away with an 8-0 run with three minutes left in the game. Two Fletcher free throws followed by a jumper and then four straight Ayuso free throws put PBA up for good as they iced the game from the line late. 

Midget and Danielsson each finished with 14 points for the Sailfish while Maria Benitez-Zayas had ten. The Sailfish were the more physical and aggressive team as they won the rebounded battle 42-30 and were rewarded with the free throw advantage 30-12. 

The Sailfish earn a big win against a top SSC side as they hand the Lions their first defeat of the season. The Sailfish are back in action on Thursday as they play Florida Gulf Coast in a scrimmage before returning to SSC play to face another top side in Nova Southeastern on Saturday.