Fighting Knights Men and Women Basketball Fall to University of Tampa

By Dani Rivera

TAMPA, Fla.- Lynn University’s men’s basketball team fell 51-46 to the University of Tampa Spartans on Saturday afternoon. Aaron Harrison had 17 points with three steals while Kaleb Clyburn added an additional 13 points. The Fighting Knights move to 7-8 overall and 1-4 in Sunshine State Conference play.

The first half featured fancy footwork and good ball movement from both teams. The head to head battle wouldn’t allow for either side to pull ahead with a substantial lead for long, heading to the locker room at half, Lynn trailing by one, 24-23.

The Spartan (11-4, 4-2 SSC) came out fired up in the second half, putting the Fighting Knights under pressure right from the whistle. UT took the lead with 13 minutes to go and managed to hold LU off until the final whistle. The Blue and White made the Spartans work at maintaining the lead, forcing 13 turnovers and making a late rally, but it wasn’t enough to seal the deal.

LU outshot Tampa from the free throw line shooting 75 percent to the Spartans 51.9 percent. Tampa held the advantage in shots from the field shooting 37.8 percent while the Fighting Knights shot 27.4 percent.

Lynn University’s women’s basketball team also fell to the University of Tampa Spartans 77-52 this Saturday afternoons’ Sunshine State Conference match-up. The Fighting Knights moved to 9-6 on the season and 2-3 in SSC play. Shatorria Baker led Lynn with 14 points, shooting 6-of-9 from the field. Tylar Tracy notched an additional 10 points.

The Fighting Knights raced out to an early 5-11 lead headed by Tylar Tracy hitting a three pointer in the opening minutes of the game. Tampa (10-5,4-2 SSC) would answer back with a five point run and hold the lead for the remainder of the first period, putting some pressure on the Blue and White before heading into the locker room. Baker and Zachara Bailey each notched seven points in the first half while Tracy and Sharneka McCatty chipped in with six points apiece. Lynn shot an impressive 71.4 percent from three point range whereas Tampa held the advantage at shots from the field, outshooting LU 50 percent to 36.7 percent.

Lynn continued to press in the second half, but couldn’t shut down UT’s shooters, Juliana Cavallaro, who scored 20 points, and Ellen Nurmi who put up 17. The Blue and White was unable to make baskets, shooting only 24.1 percent from the field allowing Tampa to claim the game.