FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla. (January 18, 2014) -
Rollins was held scoreless the final six minutes and couldn't stop
Nova Southeastern down the stretch as the 13th-ranked
Tars fell to the fourth-ranked Sharks, 63-60 Saturday.
The battle between the class of the Sunshine State Conference
lived up to its pregame billing. Rollins had its six-game winning
streak stopped and falls to 14-3 overall and 4-2 in SSC play. NSU
remains unbeaten at 14-0 overall, 5-0 in the league.
Sarah Taylor led the Tars with 16 points and six rebounds. Sarah
Blackburn added 13 points and eight rebounds, including six on the
offensive end. The senior is now just 10 away from a spot in the
Rollins 1,000 point club.
Emmalee Schill netted 12 points with Tanaya Jones recording 11
points, five assists and six steals.
Taylor Buie topped NSU with 14 points while Jasmine Wilkins
earned a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds.
The tip-off was delayed nearly 30 minutes while the NSU staff
fixed an issue with the scoreboards.
Rollins came into the game leading the SSC and ranking third
nationally in defense while the Sharks are third in Division II in
offense, scoring nearly 90 a game.
NSU set the pace early, but Rollins kept up and took a 22-21
lead after a Jones steal and fast break score with 8:42 to play in
the first. The Tars later pushed its advantage to 32-27 on a
Blackburn jumper and went into the break ahead 34-29.
In the second, Rollins continued its hot offense and built a
47-37 advantage with 14:33 to play. The Tars then missed their next
three shots while the Sharks went on a 9-0 run to pull within 47-46
at the 12 minute mark.
A Jones three kept Rollins ahead and sparked a run of its own,
resulting in a 58-50 Tars lead with 7:57 on the clock.
A Schill jumper with at the 6:08 mark gave Rollins a 60-54
advantage heading into crunch time. Unfortunately, the basket was
the last for the Tars as NSU outscored its visitors 9-0 the rest of
the way.
Rollins trailed 61-60 with 3:08 to play, but missed the front
end of a 1-and1, and then couldn't connect on three looks down in
the waning moments.
The Tars shot 36 percent (25-69) from the field and held the
Sharks to 42 percent (22-52). NSU also shot 16-of-20 from the free
throw line to Rollins' 4-of-8. Rollins had the edge on the glass,
42-38, including a 17-8 advantage on the offensive end.
Rollins will finish its three-game road trip on Wednesday, Jan.
22, stepping out of SSC play to meet Palm Beach Atlantic. Tip off
is slated for 5:30 p.m. in Rubin Arena. Fans can catch all the
action live on the Tars Sports Network at RollinsSports.com and
locally on 91.5 FM WPRK.
