WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - The Palm Beach Atlantic women's basketball need returned home tonight to host Florida Southern at Rubin Arena. In need of a win to buoy their Sunshine State Conference tournament chances, the Sailfish stormed back from a deficit late to capture a 66-63 victory. The win takes PBA's record to 9-9 on the season and 5-7 in SSC play.

The Sailfish got out to a slow start offensively as it took them four minutes into the game to get on the board after a Kash Ayuso three-pointer. Ashleigh Boulin came off the bench and provided the spark the Sailfish needed as she scored four points in the opening quarter. Overall PBA shot 4-of-16 from the floor while the Mocs countered with 8-of-21 and led 16-11 early.

Both sides struggled badly with turnovers in the second quarter as the two teams combined for 17 in the second ten minutes of play. PBA had 10 of its 18 giveaways in the quarter which allowed them to only attempt nine shots from the field in the quarter. Claire Davis led the 'Fish with four and Boulin added three more but the Mocs led 29-22 at the half. 

Mariyah Fletcher came alive in the third quarter for PBA as she scored ten of her game-high 19 points in the third. The Sailfish shot 50 percent from the field from the floor while they held the Mocs to 1-of-10 shooting. However, it seemed like there was a whistle on every possession defensively for the 'Fish as the Mocs lived at the line going 15-of-18 as PBA was called for 11 fouls in the quarter alone. Despite the bad whistle, the Sailfish cut into the Mocs' lead by outscoring them 22-17 in the third.

After trailing the entirety of the game, the 'Fish left it late and pounced when their opportunity came. Darria Whitley scored six points in the final quarter and Fletcher added seven. After winning Defensive Player of the Week last week, Fletcher made the biggest plays of the game down the stretch. She hit a three with 2:30 left to cut the deficit to three and with 15 seconds left made the steal and finished on the other end to put PBA up one, 63-62. Ayuso hit both shots from the line late and the Sailfish got a stop late as they led just the final 15 seconds but escaped with the three-point victory.

Fletcher finished with another double-double, her fifth of the season, with 19 points and 11 boards. Ayuso scored 13 points while Whitley and Boulin were huge off the bench with 15 and 13 points respectively. Defensively, the Sailfish held the Mocs to just five baskets in the second half as the win puts PBA right in the middle of the SSC standings race.

The Sailfish will remain at home as they host Saint Leo on Saturday. The 'Fish will look for the season sweep over the Lions as they defeated them 70-62 earlier this season.