Women's basketball team loses tight game with Gulf Coast State College

The Eastern Florida State College women's basketball team battled No. 4 Gulf Coast State College, falling short on the road Saturday afternoon.

The Titans lost a close game 76-71 and head into the Citrus Conference season 4-5 on the year.

After a slow start, the Titans battled back to trail 13-10 after the first quarter and went on a run to start the second quarter as Milica Lazarevic hit a 3-pointer to tie it and then Angela Mirkovic gave the Titans the lead for the first time with a jumper. Another basket gave them a three-point lead with 5:35 left in the second quarter. The game would be back and forth until Gulf Coast finished the quarter on a 7-0 run to lead 30-24 at half.

The Commodores came out strong in the third quarter and led by as many as 14 and outscored the Titans 26-21 in the third.

But the Titans would once again make a run, scoring eight straight and then big 3-pointers by Mirkovic and Lazarevic made it a one-possession game with under three minutes left.

Gulf Coast State College would hang on to improve to 10-1 on the season.

Lazarevic recrded the double-double, leading the Titans with 18 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. Mirkovic finished with 17 points and seven rebounds while Shadia Lara Santacruz finishes with 14 and Ofir Parpara scored six of her 10 points in the fourth quarter.

Eastern Florida State College will be home Wednesday night for the Citrus Conference opener against Hillsborough Community College. The game will begin at 5:30 p.m. and admission is free.