Eagles’ upset bid falls short in shootout

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (December 30, 2015) – NJCAA No. 21/FCSAA No. 5 Tallahassee Community College's women's basketball team overcame a 23-point deficit before having its upset bid fall short in a 94-87 loss at No. 7/No. 3 Daytona State College on Wednesday afternoon in day two action at the Daytona State Holiday Classic. 

The Eagles dropped their final three non-conference games and will carry an 11-6 record into Saturday's Panhandle Conference opener, a 5:30 p.m. home date with Pensacola State College. 

Tallahassee trailed by as many as 20 (47-27) in the second quarter before heading to the locker room, staring at an 18-point deficit, 50-32. 

Things didn't start off any better for the Eagles after the intermission. Five unanswered points gave Daytona State a 55-32 lead, its largest of the game, at the 8:44 mark of the third quarter. 

Then, out of nowhere, Tallahassee stormed back, needing only five and a half minutes to tie the game. Two free throws by Monique Calliste – the last of 13 unanswered points – capped a 31-8 run to even the score at 63-all. 

Daytona State never surrendered the lead, however, and took a 76-70 lead into the fourth, where it outscored the Eagles, 18-17, to hang on for its 13^th straight victory. 

Lawriell Wilson scored 24 points to lead Tallahassee. She was joined in double-figures by Calliste with 17, Sabrina Banks with 16 and Eboni Watts with 11. 

Saturday's game, part of a doubleheader with the Eagle men, can be seen live online at TCCeagles.com.