WINTER PARK, Fla. (December 7, 2013) - Rollins
fell behind by halftime and couldn't catch up as the 16th-ranked
Tars were upset by unbeaten Saint Leo 66-57 Saturday in the
Sunshine State Conference opener.
Sarah
Blackburn led Rollins (8-2, 0-1 SSC) with 11 points and seven
rebounds. Sarah
Taylor added 10 points and nine rebounds while Emmalee
Schill posted nine points and 10 rebounds.
Teresa Manigrasso poured in 16 points for Saint Leo, who moved
to 9-0 (1-0 SSC) for the first time in school history. Chelsea
Williams nearly recorded a double-double with 13 points and nine
rebounds, while Chachi Guzman netted 10.
Rollins had its second-toughest shooting night of the season,
hitting just 29 percent (18-63) from the field. The Tars were
4-of-25 from 3-point range and 17-of-20 at the free throw line.
Saint Leo hit 36 percent (20-58) from the floor and 22-of-26 at the
stripe. The Lions outrebounded the Tars 44-41 on the day.
Saint Leo led 9-4 after the first three minutes, but Rollins
came back to tie the score at 12 halfway through the period. The
game was tied at 23 with 5:16 left before the Lions ended the half
on a 13-3 run and took a 36-26 advantage into intermission.
Coming out of the break, Blackburn, Schill and Ashley
Losch teamed for a 9-0 run that closed the gap to 36-35 with 17
minutes to play. Leo scored on the next possession and the Tars got
to within one twice more over the next five minutes, but couldn't
get over the hump.
The Tars trailed 47-44 with 8:26 to play before an Ashlin Gross
triple sparked a 7-0 Lions spurt and put Rollins down 10 at the
6:16 mark.
A pair of Taylor free throws with two minutes left closed the
Tars gap to 60-55. Saint Leo would then seal the game at the line,
hitting 6-of-7 down the stretch.
Rollins is off for final exams and will be back in action Dec.
16-17, hosting the Tars Holiday Classic. Rollins will meet Arkansas
Tech the first day and then close the event with a clash against
Mount Olive. Fans can follow all the action live on the Tars Sports
Network at RollinsSports.com.
