Tampa swept this week’s SSC awards after opening the women’s basketball season 2-0. Giorgia Palmieri was named SSC Player of the Week, while Olivia Davis earned SSC Defensive Player of the Week honors. The Spartans began the season with victories over Northeastern State and No. 20 West Texas A&M.
Tampa defeated Northeastern State 65-57 before earning a 71-68 overtime victory over No. 20 West Texas A&M. Against Northeastern State, the Spartans forced 19 turnovers, collected 12 steals and limited the RiverHawks to 22 second-half points. Tampa also held West Texas A&M to 22.2 percent shooting from 3-point range and seven points in overtime.
Giorgia Palmieri drives Tampa’s 2-0 start
Palmieri averaged 21.0 points, 3.5 assists, 4.5 steals and 2.5 rebounds across Tampa’s two victories. She totaled 42 points and seven assists while shooting 48.0 percent from the field and 77.8 percent from the free-throw line. Palmieri also scored 26 points in Tampa’s overtime victory over the nationally ranked Lady Buffs.
Palmieri shot 8 of 16 from the field and made three 3-pointers against West Texas A&M. She added four rebounds, three assists and three steals without committing a turnover. In the season opener against Northeastern State, Palmieri recorded 16 points, six steals and four assists.
Olivia Davis earns defensive recognition
Davis averaged 2.0 steals and 3.0 defensive rebounds per game during Tampa’s opening two victories. She recorded two steals against Northeastern State as the Spartans forced 19 turnovers, collected 12 steals and limited the RiverHawks to 22 second-half points. Davis then played all 45 minutes against West Texas A&M.
Davis finished the overtime victory with five defensive rebounds and two steals. Tampa limited West Texas A&M to 22.2 percent shooting from 3-point range and seven points in overtime. The performance included defensive work that helped Tampa complete its 2-0 start.
FSB Take
Tampa’s award sweep recognizes production on both ends of the court after its opening two wins. Palmieri supplied the scoring and playmaking, while Davis contributed steals, defensive rebounds and 45 minutes in the overtime victory. The honors give Tampa individual SSC recognition tied directly to its 2-0 start.
Source: Original report