MELBOURNE, Fla. - The Palm Beach Atlantic women's basketball team hit the road tonight to take on the Florida Tech Panthers. After a slow start, the Sailfish stormed back behind a record-setting performance from Kash Ayuso but fell 78-76. PBA's record falls to 13-11 overall and 7-9 in Sunshine State Conference play with the defeat. 

Taking on a Panthers side who sit at the bottom of the conference, the Sailfish looked to solidify their SSC tournament chances with a short-handed lineup once again. The 'Fish started slow offensively as it took six minutes to get on the board as Zoe Wortinger converted an old-fashion three-point play. What would become a theme for the night for PBA, the offensive load fell on Kash Ayuso who answered with seven first-quarter points as the Sailfish shot 4-of-14 and trailed 17-10.

The offense from both sides was clicking in the second quarter. PBA shot the ball better from the floor, 6-of-14, as Ayuso added another seven and Ashleigh Boulin scored four. The 'Fish struggled with turnovers early as they committed ten in the opening half but also forced nine from the home side. The Panthers led PBA 38-26 at the half.

It looked like Florida Tech pulled away in the third quarter as they led by 20 at the end of the quarter. PBA was outscored 26-18 as the Panthers shot over 60 percent in the quarter and continued to get to the free throw line at a high clip, shooting 22-of-26 from the stripe on the night. 

After scoring 10 in the third, Ayuso completely exploded in the final ten minutes to get PBA back into the game. The Sailfish opened on a 20-4 run led by Ayuso who scored 18 of her school-record 42 points in the final frame. She wasn't alone as Karyzma Pierre's offense came to life as she scored 12 of her 17 in the last ten minutes. PBA had a chance to tie it down three, in the closing minute but a Katelynn Hagy three didn't go and after an offensive rebound and timeout, the Sailfish turned it over.

PBA was outshot in every category on the night but won the turnover margin after taking care of the ball in the second half as they committed just five turnovers and forced 13 more from the Panthers. Ayuso's 42 points came on 14-of-28 shooting as she added six rebounds and four assists while playing the full 40 minutes.

PBA missed a chance to climb the conference standings with a victory, but they return home this Saturday as they host the top side in the league Nova Southeastern. The Sharks are 19-3 overall and 14-1 in SSC play. NSU defeated PBA 75-62 when the two sides met earlier this season.