The University of Tampa’s women’s basketball team is off to an impressive and decorated 2010-2011 season.
The Spartans currently stand 8-3 in Sunshine State Conference play and 16-5 overall, only trailing Florida Tech and Florida Southern in conference standings.
Earlier in the season the squad recorded a 12-game winning streak while adding a mark of 25 straight home games won, dating back to last season.
The winning streak was snapped by conference rival Florida Southern after the Spartans struggled defensively while FSC shot 48 percent from the field.
One of the noticeable standouts for the women this season has been Taja Green, a senior from Peoria, Ill. Standing at 5 foot 11, Green is averaging 17.3 PPG while shooting a solid 53 percent from the field.
Right behind Green is senior guard Gianna Messina. The Tampa native is averaging 16.3 PPG for the Spartans and leading the squad with 63 three-pointers made.
As a team, the Spartans are putting up impressive numbers from behind the ark. The women Spartans have made 10 three-point field goals in a game 10 times this season, reaching as high as 15 three pointers at Nova Southeastern on Jan. 22.
The Spartans are coming off an 11-point win against Lynn last Saturday after losing to number 14 nationally ranked Rollins College.
As Tampa looks up in the SSC standings, they follow Florida Tech and Florida Southern’s path into the SSC tournament starting on March 2. They will have a premium chance to catch up in the standings as the Spartans finish off the season at Florida Southern on Feb. 23 and home against Florida Tech on Feb. 26.
After a week off from competition, the Spartans will resume play Feb.16 at Saint Leo.
Michael Paonessa can be reached at mpaonessa@spartans.ut.edu.