MIAMI SHORES, Fla. -- The Buccaneers went toe-to-toe with the Sunshine State Conference's first-place team on Saturday afternoon. Unfortunately, Barry came up short to the Tampa Spartans 62-51 inside the Health & Sports Center despite holding a lead going into the fourth quarter. The Bucs were led by junior Nerea Baena, who was a rebound shy of her first career double-double. 

INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Final: Barry 62, Tampa 51
Records: Barry (4-10, 2-6 SSC), Tampa (10-3, 7-0 SSC)
All-Time Series: Tampa leads 24-50

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING:

SUMMARY:

• The Bucs led by as many as six in the first period, with seven of the Bucs' 16 points in the quarter coming from junior Nerea Baena. The Barcelona native dominated the glass with six total rebounds, four on the offensive end. Baena converted those second chances at the free throw line by drawing fouls on the Spartans, going 3-for-4 from the free throw line. 
• Chiara Fusari caught fire for the Bucs, connecting on back-to-back triples in the second period. She scored all 10 of her points in the second quarter, helping Barry go into the locker room with a 30-27 lead over the Spartans. 
• Baena continued to capitalize with her low-post moves, scoring seven more points in the quarter. However, she also picked up her fourth personal foul with :33 left in the period, forcing coach BIll Sullivan to start the final period without her. 
• Barry went stone-cold in the fourth quarter, going 4-for-17 from the field. Tampa closed the game out on a 12-2 run in the last 3:26. 

NOTEWORTHY:

• Barry had four players reach double-figure scoring -- Baena (17), Carly Sanders (11), Chiara Fusari (10) and Emma Hergot (10). 
• Hergot recorded her second double-double of the season
• Fusari has reached double-figure scoring in each of her last two games on 9-for-15 shooting. 

ON THE HORIZON:

The Bucs are off until a week from today, when they travel to the Bowman Center to take on the Saint Leo Lions (6-8, 2-4 SSC) on Saturday, January 18th.