ARKADELPHIA,
Ark. (March 10, 2006) ' After losing their first game of the season
in the Sunshine State Conference Tournament Championship game, the
Rollins College women's basketball traveled to Arkadelphia, Ark. to
take part in the NCAA Division II South Regionals, hoping to
rebound from the loss, only to fall inches short, losing 48-46 in
overtime to Florida Gulf Coast University. The two teams entered
the game with similar 28-1 records with Rollins the fourth seed in
the tournament and Florida Gulf Coast the fifth seed. The game
lived up to it's billing as the score was tied 17-17 at the half
and 36-36 at the end of regulation. Two last second free throws by
the Eagles in overtime were the difference in the game, sending the
Tars back to Winter Park and advancing the Eagles into the next
round.
'
Sophomore
guard Jennifer Musgrove (Palm Bay, Fla.) recorded her third
double-double of the season with 13 points and 11 rebounds. Senior
Joslyn Giles (Winter Haven, Fla.) and sophomore Rachael Workman
(Northampton, Mass.) added seven points a piece; while senior Sally
Johnston (Winter Springs, Fla.) grabbed a team high 13 rebounds.
Junior Larissa McDonough (Ormond Beach, Fla.) returned to the court
for Rollins after recovering from a wrist injury and had three
points and 11 rebounds.
'
The
Eagles were led by Katie Schrader with a game high 14 points and 15
rebounds.
'
The
two teams appeared nervous in the opening half of play and went a
combined 13-67 from the field. Rollins took the early lead and went
up by ten points, 14-4 with 8:50 remaining in the half. The Eagles
then went on a 13-3 run to close out the half and tie the game at
17 at the break.
'
The
Eagles continued their run to start the second half, holding the
Tars scoreless until Musgrove connected on a free throw 2:42 into
the half. The Tars rallied and a Workman lay-up with 9:45 to play
tied the game at 29. Rollins found themselves down 36-34 with less
than a minute to play when Musgrove drove hard to the basket and
was fouled by Schrader. She calmly hit her two free throws to give
the Eagles the ball with 34 seconds remaining. Jessica Hathaway
missed for Florida Gulf Coast and after a timeout by Rollins head
coach Glenn Wilkes, the Tars had four seconds to try for the win.
Musgrove took the ball at the far end of the court and drove all
the way down to the three point line and threw up a last second
shot that hit off the front rim, sending the game into
overtime.
'
Both
teams' offense took shape in overtime, as the scoring escalated.
Rollins, trying to advance through the opening round of the NCAA
tournament for the third time in school history, took the early
advantage and grabbed a four point lead. A free throw by Ebonie
Halliburton and a three pointer by Alex Nelson brought the Eagles
back and tied the game at 40 with 2:57 to play in the extra period.
Johnston put the Tars up by two with on open jumper only to see
Halliburton hit four free throws along with a jumper by Hathaway to
give the Eagles a four point advantage. Musgrove and Johnston were
both able to score in the last minute, tying the game at 46 with
nine seconds remaining. The Eagles missed on their go ahead attempt
and McDonough grabbed the rebound for the Tars with four seconds on
the clock. Halliburton, a senior guard out of East St. Louis , Mo.
then stole McDonough's pass and was fouled by Musgrove as Musgrove
attempted to prevent a lay-up. Halliburton hit both of her free
throws with two-tenths of a second on the clock, sealing the two
point victory for Florida Gulf Coast .
'
On
the night, Rollins out-shot the Eagles, hitting 25.4 percent from
the field (17-67) and holding Florida Gulf Coast to 20.6 percent
(14-68). Rollins also grabbed more rebounds, 61 to the Eagles' 53,
but could force the Eagles into only 12 turnovers, while committing
19 of their own.
'
The
loss ends the Tars' 2005-06 season with an overall record of
28-2.
