SAINT LEO, Fla. (February 1, 2014) - Sarah
Taylor led Rollins to its biggest offensive game of the season
Saturday as the 13th-ranked Tars beat Saint Leo 86-76 to
start the Sunshine State Conference season's second half.
Taylor poured in a career-best 26 points to lead Rollins (18-3,
7-2 SSC), shooting 6-of-9 from 3-point range (8-18 overall) and
hitting all four free throw attempts. Emmalee
Schill added 19 points and seven rebounds while Ashley
Losch earned 15 points and nine rebounds.
Teresa Manigrasso led Saint Leo (14-5, 5-4 SSC) with 23 points
while also adding six rebounds and six assists. Chachi Guzman added
14 points and four assists with Chelsea Connelly getting 11 points
and nine rebounds.
Rollins came into the game looking to avenge a 66-57 loss to
Saint Leo in Decembe to start the conference season.
The Tars came out hot and doubled up the Lions 28-14 after the
first 10 minutes. Leo then responded with an 18-3 run over the next
3:30 off the clock, giving the hosts a 32-31 lead on a Connelly
3-pointer.
Schill got Rollins back on track with a triple of her own on the
next possession as the Tars would take a 45-43 lead into
halftime.
Rollins started the second the same as the first and again built
a 14-point lead, leading 72-58 with seven minutes to play. The Tars
advantage would grow too as many as 15 only to see the Lions close
to within 76-71 with 3:16 left. Rollins came up big in crunch time,
ending the game 8-for-11 at the free throw line down the stretch to
keep the Lions at bay.
Rollins earned a 45-43 rebounding edge and finished the day
plus-9 in turnovers (19-10).
The Tars return home on Wednesday, Feb. 5, hosting Tampa at 5:30
p.m. Fans can catch all the action live on the Tars Sports Network
at RollinsSports.com and locally on 91.5 FM WPRK.
