WINTER PARK, Fla. (December 16, 2013) - Sarah
Blackburn led Rollins with a near double-double as the
18th-ranked Tars beat Mount Olive 59-42 Monday in the
Tars Holiday Classic.
The win moves Rollins record to 9-2 on the year while Mount
Olive falls to 5-3.
Blackburn recorded 14 points and nine rebounds to pace the Tars.
Ashley
Losch chipped in 12 points and five boards off the bench while
Emmalee
Schill netted 11.
Jasmine McDonald led MOC with 14 points and nine rebounds.
Kirksten Mitchell added 11 points.
The teams played even through the first 11 minutes with a pair
of Emily
Raymer free throws knotting the score at 10 with 9:08 left in
the first. The game would then see three more ties and two lead
changes until a Losch jumper with 2:12 left in the half put the
Tars up 21-19, a lead they wouldn't relinquish the rest of the
night.
Rollins took a 26-21 lead into halftime.
The Tars started the second hot and extended the advantage to
46-31 with 9:04 to play. The Trojans twice came back and closed the
gap to 10, but Rollins defense held MOC without a point for a
three-minute stretch in crunch time.
Rollins sealed the game at the free throw line, shooting
15-for-15 on the night.
The Tars shot 41 percent (20-49) from the floor, including
4-of-14 from beyond the arc. They held the Trojans to just 16-of-63
shooting and 5-of-32 from long range. Rollins also beat its
visitors on the glass 41-38, but committed 19 turnovers while
forcing 14.
Rollins will have a quick turnover before opening the final day
of the Tars Holiday Classic, taking on Arkansas Tech at 2 p.m.
Tuesday, Dec. 17. The Golden Suns beat Bluefield State 68-62 on
Monday.
Fans can catch all the action live on the Tars Sports Network at
RollinsSports.com.
