FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla. (March 9, 2019) – Rollins was down one with 1:44 left, but Eckerd finished the game on an 11-0 run as the Tars were bounced from the Sunshine State Conference Tournament 67-55 on Saturday.
The loss ends Rollins season at 12-16 while Eckerd (22-8) advances to play Florida Southern in the SSC Championship game on Sunday.
Carly McLendon had a big final game of her collegiate career, posting 14 points, six rebounds, five assists and two blocks. Jaylyn Harrison had 10 points while Tianna Rosser scored nine.
Mikayla Kuenhe topped EC with 16 points. Chelsea Johnson scored 12 and Abby Whiteye netted 10.
Rollins hit its first four from the field and were tied 10-10 after a Rachel Jablonski triple with 6:48 left in the first. The Tars then turned it over five times and went 0-5 the rest of the frame, falling into a 20-10 hole after the first 10 minutes.
The Tars scoring drought continued into the second as they trailed 26-10 until a Vernisha Andrews jumper got Rollins back on track. Harrison scored eight points in the final two minutes and got the Tars to within 30-22 at halftime.
The hot offense continued into the third for Rollins. Rosser hit three-straight jumpers and Andrews drained a pair to tie the score 33-33 with 4:57 left in the frame. It was then the Tritons turn to heat up its offense as they put Rollins down 42-38 heading into the fourth.
Rollins was starting at a 55-48 deficit with 4:03 left in the game. A three-point play by McLendon was followed by a jumper and two more free throws for the senior and pulled the Tars to within one, 56-55. That would be the last score of the night for the Tars, however, with going 6-for-6 from the line and 2-for-2 from the field down the stretch to put Rollins away.
