#TCCBasketball: Eagles knock off No. 19 FSW at Shootout

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (December 1, 2017) – NJCAA No. 7/Region 8 No. 2 Tallahassee Community College improved to 8-0 with an 80-56 win over No. 19/No. 5 Florida SouthWestern State College on day one action at the Florida College's Women's Basketball Shootout. 

The win was Tallahassee's second against a nationally-ranked opponent thus far. The Eagles beat No. 23 Vincennes (Ind.) University on November 11. 

After winning by an average of almost 60 points in its last four games, Tallahassee found itself in a tussle through the first 20 minutes on Friday. 

The Eagles jumped out to a 17-7 lead, but Florida SouthWestern scored five unanswered points to pull within five (17-12) after one quarter. The Bucs scored the first four points in the second quarter to get within a point and eventually took their first lead (23-21) at the 5:14 mark on a jumper by Kiara Meeks. 

Tallahassee trailed by as many as six but regained momentum and the lead with a 10-0 run. Jas Hill started things with a three-pointer to cut the deficit in half and Japonica James' old-fashioned three-point play tied the game with 2:39 left in the half. 

Defensively, the Eagles forced 34 turnovers, which they converted into 42 points. Included was a steal and lay-in by Nakiah Black at the 2:03 mark that put Tallahassee in front, 31-29. 

The Eagles never trailed again. 

Tallahassee led 39-33 at the intermission then outscored Florida SouthWestern in the third quarter, 20-9 to all but put the game away. 

Black scored 10 points in the third and added seven more in the fourth, as the Eagles closed the game on a 15-4 run. 

She finished with a game-high 25 points. 

James added 20 and Hill, 17. 

Tallahassee will return to the floor at 2 p.m. Saturday against ASA College Miami. The game will carried on YouTube, courtesy of Daytona State College.