WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.- The Palm Beach Atlantic women's basketball team battled hard but ultimately fell to Florida Southern, 79-70, at Rubin Arena. Despite nailing a perfect 10-for-10 from the free-throw line, the 'Fish couldn't quite reel in the victory in a back and forth game marked by seven ties and six lead changes.

Anabel Ellison delivered a standout performance with 25 points, including three shots from downtown, and snagged two steals. KB Hadley was right there with her, adding 18 points on 7 of 13 shooting and dishing out four assists. Breeje Schuler chipped in 12 points and grabbed six boards, while Maddie Wallhoff was perfect from beyond the arc with nine points and also picked up two steals.

The showdown between the Sailfish and Mocs kicked off with a flurry of baskets. Hadley's two early layups kept the 'Fish in the mix. Despite Ellison's clutch 3-pointer at 3:52, some missed shots and turnovers allowed the Mocs to edge ahead, closing the quarter at 14-10.

The Sailfish surged in the second quarter. Wallhoff drained a 3-pointer at 9:17, courtesy of Maren McCallister's assist, then repeated the feat at 8:48, forcing a timeout from Fla. Southern. Blanche Toualeu added a layup at 8:11, strengthening their grip on the lead.

The Mocs tried to claw back, with Lily Randgaard sinking a 3-pointer at 5:12 to tie it up. But the Sailfish responded swiftly with a Hadley jumper and a 3-pointer, assisted by Anaya Smith, at 3:44. Ellison's layup at 1:17 ensured the 'Fish stayed afloat, ending the half tied at 31.

The third quarter was a seesaw battle. Schuler's layup, off an assist from Darria Whitley, tied things up at 33, and Ellison's crucial 3-pointer at 7:08 made it 36-all. The action continued to swing both ways, with Randgaard's go-ahead 3-pointer at 2:10 putting the Mocs up 43-41. Hadley's free throws at 1:40 tied it again, but Florida Southern edged ahead 49-43 by the quarter's end.

In the final frame, the Sailfish found bursts of brilliance. Ellison's relentless scoring, including a layup at 1:00 and a 3-pointer with 45 seconds left, kept hope alive. Schuler added a 3-pointer at 2:28 and a layup at 5:56, but the Mocs' near-perfect free-throw shooting sealed the deal. Despite a spirited effort, the 'Fish came up short, with the final score reading 79-70 in favor of the Mocs.

The Sailfish return to the floor on Saturday afternoon when they head to Saint Leo at 2 p.m. to take on the Lions. The Sailfish defeated the Lions 72-66 inside the Rubin Arena back on Jan. 12.