GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Santa Fe College Women's Basketball put forth its best effort towards making a second-half surge against visiting Daytona State College, but the Falcons were able to hold off the Saints to win 72-65 in Central Conference play in the two teams' first meeting of the season.

First Quarter – DSC 19, SF 16

Each side had significant runs in the opening minutes. The Falcons led 9-0 after the first three minutes of play, but SF proceeded to score the next twelve points to take their first lead.

The run was capped off by a basket and the foul from Olivia Smith.

Daytona State responded with a 10-2 run to regain the lead, but another basket from Smith brought the Saints to within a single possession at the end of the quarter.

Second Quarter – DSC 35, SF 20

The second quarter was a quarter to forget for Santa Fe. The offense went 0-of-12 from the floor, had 11 turnovers, and the Saints were outscored 16-4 to fall into the 15-point halftime deficit.

Third Quarter – DSC 53, SF 43

The Saints started to chip away into the Daytona State lead, and were well-within striking distance headed into the final quarter.

Malea Brown came to life offensively, netting 11 points in the quarter

Fourth Quarter – DSC 72, SF 65

The Saints cut the gap all the way down to four points, 61-57, on the strength of six unanswered points. Another basket from Smith, a stepback jumper with 4:38 on the clock, ignited the Saints' bench.

Daytona State took some of the wind out of the Saints' sails though with a triple from the right wing on a possession not soon after, and five would be as close as SF would come the rest of the way on their home floor.

Key Statistics

When SF made it to the free-throw line, they made the most of it, hitting 13-of-15.

Daytona State had its most noticeable advantage in the rebounding category, 46-34.

Three Saints notched double-digit scoring. Olivia Smith had a team-high 16 points to go along with six rebounds. Brown finished with 15 points, eight rebounds, and five steals, while Taniah Bowers contributed 13 points, five rebounds, and four assists.  

Up Next

Santa Fe (10-11, 2-5 Central) has a nonconference test with No. 20 Florida Southwestern on Saturday, Feb. 5 at 2:00 p.m.