FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (March 14, 2014) -
Rollins used its stout defense and a timely run Friday to beat
Saint Leo 56-48 in the first round of the NCAA Division II South
Region Tournament.
The third-seed Tars (25-6) advance to play the winner of Tampa
and Saint Leo in the region semifinals at 5 p.m. on Saturday, March
15. Top-seed Nova Southeastern is hosting the tournament in Fort
Lauderdale.
Sarah
Taylor led Rollins with 13 points and five rebounds. Sarah
Blackburn earned her ninth double-double of the season with 11
points and 13 rebounds. Ashley
Losch added six points and a career-high 15 rebounds, including
six on the offensive glass.
Rollins outrebounded the Sunshine State Conference's top
rebounding team 59-46.
Chachi Guzman paced Saint Leo (20-10) with 17 points off the
bench. Chelsea Connelly put up eight points and 10 rebounds while
Keishara Green hauled in 12 boards.
The Tars jumped out to an 8-2 lead over the first six minutes as
both teams shook off the opening jitters of NCAA play. Rollins led
by eight four different times until the Lions went on a run and
tied the score at 19 with 2:36 left in the half.
Leo later took a 26-25 lead into halftime.
Rollins trailed 33-32 two minutes into the second before
back-to-back jumpers from Emmalee
Schill gave the Tars the lead, which they would not relinquish
the rest of the way.
The Tars were unable to pull away until two Jen
Farrell scores gave Rollins a 49-41 advantage with 6:36
left.
Saint Leo got to within 49-46 at the 3:03 mark, but Taylor got
momentum back Rollins way with a score. The Tars then hit 5-of-8
free throws in the final two minutes to seal the win.
Rollins shot 22-of-72 (30 percent) from the field and were just
2-of-18 from long range. Leo hit 17-of-63 from the floor.
Fans can follow Rollins postseason run live on the Tars Sports
Network at RollinsSports.com and locally on 91.5 FM WPRK.
