BARTLEY LEADS SAINTS TO FOURTH STRAIGHT MFC WIN, 62-61

January 23, 2010

January 23, 2010

Contact: Scott Jamison 352-395-5616 scott.jamison@sfcollege.edu

SF WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

BARTLEY LEADS SAINTS TO FOURTH STRAIGHT MFC WIN, 62-61

Gainesville, FL – Lanita Bartley proved once again why she is one of the best players in the state on Saturday afternoon against Daytona State College, scoring 20 points to lead the Saints (15-7, 4-0 MFC) to their fourth consecutive Mid-Florida Conference win.  Bartley was perfect from the free throw line going 11-for-11.

“I can’t say enough about Lanita and how she stepped up and knocked down her free throws,” said Coach Chanda Stebbins.  “Those are the little things that help you win close games against quality teams like Daytona.”

Santa Fe fell behind in the early going, with Daytona taking a 10-2 lead five minutes into the game, but SF fought back to tie things up at 14-14 with 11:30 to go.  The Saints took their first lead of the game on two free throws by Bartley at the nine minute mark and maintained the advantage throughout the rest of the first half and into the break up 31-27.

Daytona opened the second half on a 12-3 run and took a 39-34 lead with 14:30 to go in the game.  Bartley knotted things up again at 44-44 with a three point shot with 10:44 left. 

Both teams went back and forth over the next eight minutes and DSC maintained a small lead, 57-54, with 2:30 remaining.

Bartley stepped to the free throw line with SF down one with 1:37 to go and knocked down both shots to put the Saints up 60-59.  On Santa Fe’s ensuing possession Bartley drove to the hoop and dropped off a pass to Brandice Howard who pump faked and then made a lay-up to push the lead out to 62-59.

Daytona made two free throws with 12 seconds left to cut the lead to one, but were unable to score again, giving SF the victory.

The win keeps SF undefeated and atop the MFC rankings, 1.5 games ahead of Central Florida CC (16-7, 2-1 MFC), who they play on Wednesday night in Ocala.

Bartley led Santa Fe in scoring with 20 and also had five rebounds and five assists.  Tracie Sneed finished with 10 points, Letiecia Davenport had a double double with 10 points and 10 rebounds and Brandice Howard had five points and nine rebounds.

“I thought Letiecia might have had her best game of the year today,” said Stebbins.  “She was very verbal on the floor, took a few charges and did a nice job of boxing out and reminding our other players to do the same on every shot.  Brandice also did a nice job on the glass and played with a lot of intensity.”

The Saints will travel to Ocala on Wednesday, January 27 to take on Central Florida CC at 6:00pm in an important Mid-Florida Conference match-up.

“We escaped with a win last time we played down there in Ocala and I know they will be fired up to play us come Wednesday,” said Stebbins.  “We need to continue to practice well over the next couple days and give ourselves the best chance we can to go get another win.”

For complete schedules and more information on Saints Basketball, please visit santafesaints.com.  To see game photos and other updates, follow Santa Fe College Athletics on Facebook.

-30-