TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Messina Sparks Spartans

ADVERTISEMENT

By MATTHEW POSTINS Tribune correspondent

Published: November 22, 2007

TAMPA - Freshman guard Catriana Messina put on a show for her sister and Spartans fans as she scored 18 points - all on 3-pointers - to lead the University of Tampa to a 72-34 victory against Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras on Wednesday.

Messina benefited from UT women's coach Tom Jessee's desire to get his reserves more playing time before a road trip to the West Georgia Thanksgiving Classic this weekend.

"You're trying to get some experience for players that don't get as much time," Jessee said. "These are golden opportunities for players that don't get a lot of minutes to open up the eyes of the coaching staff."

Jessee said Messina didn't need to open his eyes, but the former Academy of the Holy Names standout did that for the crowd at the Bob Martinez Sports Center.

Messina made six of eight attempts from 3-point range, including three in the first half that essentially put Rio Piedras (0-3) away.

The Spartans led 14-9 with 10:06 left in the first half when Messina drained her first 3. Another followed about three minutes later, and she nailed another after guard Angela Guiu hit one of her own.

By then, the Spartans had a 26-9 lead and Messina's sister, Gianna, who plays at the University of South Florida, was on her feet wearing a UT sweatshirt.

"I don't know what happened tonight," Messina said. "I was just feeling it."

Messina hit three more 3-pointers in rapid succession midway through the second half. She played 30 minutes, the most of any Spartan on Wednesday.

Jessee rested guards DeShaydia Mackey and Alexa Kane in anticipation of this weekend's tournament in Carrollton, Ga. UT will face two of the South Region's top teams - West Georgia and No. 11 Valdosta State.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT