FNU’s late surge helps defeat TBC 69-62. (Dec. 7, 2023)
(Box Score)
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (Dec. 7, 2023) – Florida National University’s women’s basketball team earned a come-from-behind win versus Trinity Baptist College in Jacksonville, Fla., 69-62. FNU (2-5) had some worrying offensive struggles but the Eagles (3-6) did not do enough on both sides of the ball to close the door on FNU after taking an eleven-point lead at halftime.
Through the first two quarters, TBC did a masterful job of keeping FNU in check. The Eagles led the way with 32 rebounds to FNU’s 24. The Conquistadors connected on zero of 12 attempts from the three point line while the Eagles hovered at around 30% (3-10). Janelisse Marty Marrero scored consistently in the second quarter, knocking down a clutch layup to cut the Eagles’ lead to 33-29. With two minutes left in the frame, the Eagles put up seven unanswered points to end the half with a 40-29 advantage.
Marty Marrero posted a team-high 10 points on 5-13 shooting from the floor. Louise Pilley and Adalis Arroyo combined for 11 points while TBC’s Emma Parrish and Madlyn Touze carried their team with 10 points each.
In the second half, FNU had a hard time finishing at the rim, missing two layups from Arroyo and Catalina Valenzuela before taking a timeout with 8:15 on the clock. TBC led by as many as 16 before FNU slowly chipped away at the score. Valenzuela put even more pressure on the Eagles with a bucket from the three point line to cut their lead to within two possessions. Touze and Parrish iced this Conquistador run with two made free throws and a clutch three pointer. The Eagles ended the quarter up 56-46 looking to keep FNU at bay.
TBC’s fortunes took a turn in the fourth, as the Eagles posted just six points in the quarter. FNU’s defense was stout and clutch shooting from long-range courtesy of Kyla Cruz Baez made the difference in this FNU victory. After a made free throw from Louise Pilley, the game was at a standstill at 60-60 before Cruz Baez knocked down a clutch three out of an FNU timeout. The Conquistadors closed out the remaining two minutes of the game on layups from Pilley and Gabriela Solis.
Marty Marrero led all scorers with 21 points while Pilley had a solid game with 13 points on 6-11 shooting. Notably, Valenzuela and Arroyo combined for 19 points.
Up Next: Florida National has some exhibition action versus Barry University on Dec. 10 with tipoff set at 2 p.m.
