Box Score DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (November 12, 2021) - A late run that included a number of clutch free throws spoiled the season opener for the Rollins Tars as they fell by a score of 65-63 to the Christian Brothers Buccaneers at the Bahama House Shootout in Daytona Beach.
How it happened:
- Rollins used their size to their advantage and went to work in the paint in the first quarter. Niya Pluviose scored the first two buckets of the season for the Tars, followed by a layup from Kymora Westerfield and a basket down low from Maria Atanassov-Toma to take an early 10-6 lead. a pair of Pluviose free throws, coupled with an Asia Newsome layup and a Lucy Leen three gave the Tars a 19-11 advantage after one quarter.
- The Tars defense stepped up in a big way in period two. Rollins stifling effort created two separate stretches of three-plus minutes in which Christian Brothers was unable to score. Meanwhile, Asia Newsome continued ot put in work on offense, adding six more points in the paint to her total. Leen added two more triples as well as the Tars closed out the half leading 36-20.
- Christian Brothers was a different team after halftime as they scored 29 points, on 11-19 shooting including four threes. Yaya Coleman contributed ten points in the period for the Bucs. Senior Yoke Tassent did her best to keep Rollins the game, knocking down a pair of triples. When all was said and done, the Tars' lead had shrunk to 55-49.
- Neither team shot particularly well in the final frame, with Rollins going 4-13 and Christian Brothers countering with 6-17. A 6-0 run in the middle of the period made it a two-point game, but a Pluviose bucket down low extended the Tars lead back to four. Ninety seconds later, a turnover led to a layup, followed by a three from Coleman to give CBU the 60-59 lead, their first of the game. Both defenses played tough down the stretch, but the Bucs were able to knock down three of four free throws in the final minute to hold on for a 65-63 win.
Newsome and Leen tied for the team lead with twelve points each. All twelve of Leen's points came on four hits from long range.
Kymora Westerfield chipped in ten. Atanassov-Toma looked sharp in her collegiate debut, scoring eight to go with a team high eight boards.
The Tars will be back at it tomorrow, once again at the ICI Center in Daytona. Rollins will play the Spring Hill Badgers, who fell to Embry-Riddle 91-31 in the night cap of today's doubleheader. Tip off is set for 4:00 pm.
