The William Jewell women's basketball team got off to a cold start offensively on Friday and despite a second half rally, fell to Tampa by a final of 60-45 to close the Florida Tech Holiday Classic. The Cardinals move to 5-4 on the season. 

How it Happened

• The offense started slow in the opening quarter as Jewell went nearly four minutes without scoring. Claire Burch and Rachel Schon connected on layups but that would be all the points Jewell would get in the opening frame, trailing 12-4. 
• Things got moving a little better in the second period as the Cardinals scored 11 points by five different players but still trailed 29-15 at the break. 
• Tampa expanded the lead to as many as 19 midway through the third quarter before Jewell mounted a rally, going on a 19-5 run, capped by a three from Ainsley Tolson to make it a five point game. 
• The Spartans closed the game by outscoring Jewell 17-7, including connecting on 7-of-8 free throws over the final two minutes to pull away. 

For the Cardinals

• Burch led the Cardinals with 10 points while Kiara Bradley posted 11 rebounds. 
• Jewell shot just 29% from the floor, going 15-for-51. 
• The Cardinals turned the ball over just 13 times and forced 13 leading to 12 points. 

For the Spartans

• Tampa finished with three players in double-figures, led by Lashayla Wright-Ponders' 17 to go along with 12 rebounds. 
• The starters for the Spartans scored all but one point, compared to 23 by the Jewell bench. 

Up Next
Jewell is off until after the winter break when they return to Great Lakes Valley Conference play on January 2 when they host Truman State.