After a pair of victories in Florida, the Panthers extended their regular season winning streak to 34 games. That is currently the same number as their winning streak at home.

After taking care of business on Saturday in a 101-51 victory over Miami Dade College, the Panthers finished their trip on Monday with another win. They knocked off Palm Beach State College on Monday afternoon, 90-42.

The No. 2 Panthers are 14-0 and have been taking on all challengers this season. They have knocked off six ranked teams at the time of their matchup this season.

Among the NJCAA Division II ranks, the Panthers have been among the best squads in several rankings. However, their ability to play team defense has given them an advantage over most programs.

They showed off their talents in Port Huron last March, and Florida was no different. The trio of Kaylen Evans, Mia Simpson, and Claire Hyde has been impressive. All three continue to torch the nets and cause problems for the opposition.

"Prior to the past few games, I wasn't as consistent of a shooter as I usually am. The prior week I was getting after it in the gym before we hit the road, and it showed. I was able to help my team stretch the lead (on Friday) when things were tight, especially when the defense started face-guarding me. I was able to find success when I drove and kicked it, finding my team for open looks," Evans said. 

Evans went bonkers in the two-game stretch in Florida, combining for 55 points and 11 three-pointers. The star scorer has reached double figures in every game on the season and is averaging over 18 points on a team with several star performers.

Claire Hyde is one of those stars that has led the NJCAA DII ranks in three-pointers made. Her talents have stayed consistent, posting 32 points in the two victories.

Simpson was a flawless 9-for-9 on Saturday and followed it up with another dominant showing on Monday, posting 22 points. The 40 combined points in Florida were productive, but 85 in the past four games has been clutch.

While the first game in Florida was a comfortable Panthers lead throughout, the second matchup was more challenging in the first half. 

The Monday showdown against Palm Beach State College saw plenty of buckets that went back and forth. While holding onto a narrow halftime lead (36-31), the second half was the exact opposite.

"Playing an aggressive team like Palm Beach State, they forced us to meet their physicality early in the game. I knew the only way to spread them out was to drive to the basket and get downhill. Once they began to lay off, I was able to find the rhythm, and my teammates had confidence in me to knock down shots," Evans said. 

The ability to execute was apparent as they started the third quarter on an improbable 20-0 run. Mia Simpson had 8 points, and Kaylen Evans had 7 points during the run, which helped put the Panthers in command. We also saw Frannie Metz hit a three-pointer, and Gianine Boado added a bucket.

After finally allowing two points, Morton College took it upon itself to continue its dominance in the second half. They witnessed a memorable 32-2 run, which really decided the game.

The Panthers magically held a 68-33 lead after three quarters. The fourth quarter saw Josylin Simmons-Doxie pull off a crazy spin move layup and a three-pointer to tack on more insurance toward the eventual 90-42 victory.

"We were off to a slow start, and we let the competition hang in there. However, the second half was like an energy booster. Our defense was great, and the team intensity was at an all-time high. That led to getting the looks we wanted to help us finish on a high note," Simmons-Doxie said. 

Outscoring the opposition 54-11 in the second half propelled the Panthers in a matchup that saw adversity. It was a challenge early on, but the defense led the way. They can limit the opposition at what they do well, which showed in Florida. 

While the holidays are upon us, the Panthers will have one more non-conference matchup on January 7th before conference play begins shortly after. 

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