WINTER PARK, Fla. – Junior guard Jessica Pressley led a trio of scorers in
double figures with 14 points to guide the 11th-ranked Rollins
women's basketball team to a 60-53 victory over Sunshine State
Conference foe, Eckerd, Wednesday evening at Warden Arena.
With the win, the Tars improves to 17-1, 7-1 in conference
action, and remain perfect at home (12-0). Eckerd falls to 11-8
overall and 4-4 in the SSC.
Pacing the Tars was Pressley with three 3-pointers, while Ines Teuma and Kourtnie Berry added 10 points each.
Senior Rachael Malatesta hauled in a team-high
seven boards and registered four steals.
Leading the Tritons was sophomore guard Ashley Lutz with 15
points, while Javiera Novion trailed with 13.
From the tip, the two teams battled back-and-forth before the
Tars took their largest lead in the first half with 10:22 remaining
on a Teuma lay-in to put Rollins up six at 17-11.
Eckerd chipped away at the lead with a Ciarra Harris lay-up on
the ensuing possession, which preceded a pair of Ashly Lutz free
throws to cut the deficit to two at 17-15 with 9:10 left until
intermission.
Rollins built the lead back to four, but Eckerd stormed back
regaining the lead at the 5:59 mark on a Stacey Jordan 3-pointer
off of an assist by Javiera Novion. Rollins returned with a
3-pointer from Berry to recapture the lead. The teams exchanged
baskets until the Tars capitalized on a Jessica Presssly fast break
lay-in with 20 seconds remaining to enter the locker room with a
31-30 advantage.
After halftime, the game remained close as the Tars were unable
to shake the Tritons with its relentless defensive pressure. With
a one-point lead at 42-41 and 9:32 left, the Tars made good on a
Teuma lay-in, which was succeeded by a Pressley trey to extend the
lead to six.
The Tritons again diminished the lead scoring five unanswered
points. At the four minute mark, Rollins capitalized on an
offensive rebound with a Paris Moore lay-in as she dissected the
Triton man-to-man defense. On the Tars' next possession an Erin Kirkwood 3-pointer proved to be the
dagger to give Rollins a six-point lead with 2:06 left in
regulation. The Tars would not relinquish the lead the rest of the
way with its clutch free throw shooting to secure the victory.
The Tars out-rebounded its opponent for the 18th time this
season, 38-29. The Tars bench also out-scored Eckerd, 25-14 and
Rollins capitalized on fast break opportunities taking the
category, 15-6.
Rollins begins the second half of the conference season when it
travels to Lakeland, Fla., Saturday, Jan. 31 at 5:30 p.m. against
Florida Southern.
