WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - The Palm Beach Atlantic women's basketball team hit the floor tonight in a Sunshine State Conference game against Embry-Riddle at Rubin Arena. After clinching a spot in the SSC Tournament, the Sailfish came out on top today against the Eagles for the first time as they held onto a 73-65 victory. PBA's record moves to 15-12 with the win and 9-10 in SSC play.
The Sailfish held senior night today as they honored five seniors.
Ashleigh Boulin,
Kash Ayuso,
Mariyah Fletcher,
Jillian Schenk, and
Chelsea Aalim were honored before the game as the five have all been a part of PBA's growth to their best season in the Division II era. There was an extra energy to the gym tonight that the 'Fish used to lift them early on as Ayuso was on fire in the opening half. She had nine points in the first quarter and 13 in the second as PBA led 36-29 at the half.
PBA outshot the Eagles in each of the two opening quarters. The 'Fish were over 40 percent from the floor and dominated down low, leading to offensive rebounds that saw PBA take 36 shots in the first half to just 23 for the visitors. Fletcher and Boulin were doing much of the heavy lifting in the paint as they combined for 26 points and 19 rebounds on the night.
Both offenses struggled in the third quarter, as each side hit just three baskets from the field. PBA was able to connect on 6-of-8 trips to the line to boost their offense as the sides tied the third, each scoring 12 points. After 22 points in the first half, Ayuso cooled slightly as she finished the night with 34 points while adding seven rebounds and three assists.
Leading late, the Sailfish went inside to Boulin and Fletcher when they needed baskets and the duo came through. Boulin scored six of her 12 points in the final ten minutes and finished one rebound shy of a double-double, while Fletcher hit the mark scoring seven of her 14 points late and pulling down 10 rebounds. Defensively, the 'Fish held the Eagles to just 36 percent on the night but ERAU hit 11 threes to keep themselves in the game. Ayuso iced the game late at the line to stop an Eagles comeback as PBA was 17-of-22 from the line in the last quarter on way to their eight-point win.
The Sailfish move up to sixth place with the victory in the SSC standings. PBA is off this Wednesday and closes out their regular season on the road in a week at Eckerd. The Tritons are 15-10 on the season and defeated PBA 71-70 when the two sides met earlier this season.
