FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla. (January 17, 2009) –
No. 8 Rollins shot just 24 percent from the field and suffered
their first setback of the season, falling to Nova Southeastern
53-45 on the road Saturday.
The Tars, who were picked to finish fifth in the SSC preseason
poll, fall to 14-1 overall and 5-1 in Sunshine State Conference
play while the preseason favorite Sharks improve to 6-9, 2-3
SSC.
Jessica
Pressley was the lone Tar in double-figures with 11 points
while Kourtnie
Berry chipped in eight off the bench. Erin
Kirkwood and Ines
Teuma each netted six with Teuma gathering a team best nine
rebounds.
Stephanie Sarosi led Nova Southeastern with 16 points and 17
rebounds with LaShawnna Edwards adding 14 points off the bench.
Rollins was down only six at the half despite shooting just
5-for-32 (15 percent) in the opening period. The Tars found some
offensive rhythm in the second half, but were still only able to
hit 14-of-58 (24 percent) for the game. Despite the big day from
Sarosi, Rollins won the battle on the boards 47-44.
Pressley hit a 3-pointer on the Tars third possession to take an
early 3-2 advantage, but that would be the biggest lead Rollins
would see all night. The Sharks used a 10-0 run in the middle of
the period to take an 18-8 advantage with 8:36 left in the half and
pushed the advantage to 12 with just under six to go. Rollins
regrouped to end the stanza as pair of Jasmine
Bradley free throws late in the period put the Tars into the
half in a 26-20 hole.
Rollins fought hard in the second half and quickly got back into
the game, taking a 36-35 lead after a Berry 3-pointer with 13:13 to
go. The score was tied 36-36 with 10 minutes left with as the teams
traded baskets and the lead for the next four minutes. Edwards
scored a put back with six minutes left to put NSU back on top
43-42. The Tars would score just three more points the rest of the
way and lost for just the second time in the past 24 regular season
games.
The Tars will take a step back from Sunshine State Conference
play on Wednesday, January 21; traveling to St. Augustine to battle
Flagler at 7 p.m. Fans can catch all the action live on the
Citizens Bank of Florida Tars Sports Network at
RollinsSports.com.
