Thornton Hits Game Winner as Panthers Beat Falcons 62-60

Palm Beach State Women's Basketball team finished January the same way they started it, in dramatic fashion. 

In a back and forth game, it was the Panthers who came out on top 62-60 over the Daytona State Falcons.  But it was a game that didn't seem like it was going to be close.  The Panthers trailed for all of the 1st quarter, even being down 17-2, but finished with a layup from Kyandra Poitier to trail 17-4 at the end of the 1st.  The Panthers came roaring back in the 2nd quarter.  Outscoring the Falcons 18-10, the Panthers went into halftime trailing 27-22.

A foul on Andrea Torres in the 3rd quarter woke up the 2021-2022 3rd Team NJCAA All-American.  After not making a single 3 pointer in the 1st half, Andrea Torres connects on 5 3's in the 2nd half, however the Panthers trailed by 8 starting the 4th and final quarter.  This is where the Panthers got it going.  Slowly chipping away at the lead, the Panthers came from behind and took a 1 point lead late in the quarter.  Two free throws from Andrea Torres with 13.7 seconds left had the Panthers leading 60-57.  A foul from Athaliah Brown on a 3pt attempt from Daytona sent Danea Mackey to the line.  Danea calmly hit all 3 FTs to tie the game at 60 with 2.6 seconds left.  A bank shot from Ashley Thornton from the foul line as time expired gave the Panthers the 62-60 victory.

Andrea Torres had 25 points, going 5-9 from deep.  Ashley Thornton had 14 points, including the game winner, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists.  Athaliah Brown added 13 points.  Keri Cooper did not score a single bucket but had 7 rebounds and 9 blocks.

Palm Beach is on the road for their next 3 games, first taking on Hillsborough at 5pm on Wednesday February 1st.