WINTER PARK, Fla. (December 13, 2022) - The Rollins Tars got back on the winning side of things on Tuesday evening, earning a tough 73-63 win over the visiting Warner Royals. The win pushes Rollins' record to 4-5 on the season.
It was a slow start for both teams before
Emily Dogbatse put the Tars on the board with a three-point play a couple minutes in to the first quarter. Minutes later, the sophomore transfer would add a three-pointer and a pull up jumper to help Rollins maintain a 10-9 lead. However, the Royals came roaring back with an 8-0 run, and would finish the first quarter up 17-15.
The lead would extend all the way to seven points in the second quarter as Rollins failed to convert on offense.
Lucy Leen had seen enough after three minutes, and took matters into her own hands. She nailed two triples just moments apart, and then added two more threes just two minutes later, the last of which tied the game at 27. Rollins received an extra boost with layups from
Emily McIntosh and
Maria Atanassov-Tomas with under 30 seconds to go, giving them a 33-30 halftime lead.
The Tars shot 40% from three in the first half, a significant improvement over their last game at Barry on December 10. They were also perfect from the free-throw line in the half.
The first three field goals of the third quarter were all from ling range for the Tars, spearheaded by a pair from McIntosh. Her second make gave the Tars a 42-33 lead. After the rain stopped, Rollins shifted their offensive focus down low where
Silvia Lasarte and Atanassov-Tomas were able to use their size to convert around the rim. Warner never truly threatened in the quarter, but a layup from
Kalila Fambro at the end of the period put an exclamation point on a great quarter for the Tars as they led 55-45.
Things got a little tense to start the fourth. Trailing 57-47, Warner went on a 9-0 run to pull within one point. McIntosh was able to stop the visiting team momentum with yet another three, putting Rollins up 60-56 with seven minutes to go. The Royals would never get closer than four points after that moment as solid offensive execution, coupled with a 3/4 court press, helped Rollins maintain the lead.
Claire Erickson nailed a dagger three with two minutes to play, and then Atanassov-Tomas put the nail in the coffin with a layup off a feed from
Kymora Westerfield. Two late free throws made the final score of 73-63.
McIntosh finished the game with a career-high 18 points on 75% shooting, and also added three rebounds, five assists, and three steals. Leen had 14, including four threes, while Erickson chipped in ten points.
Next up for the Tars is the final home game of 2022, a matchup with the Southeastern Fire. The game will be played at Warden Arena with a 6:00 pm tip on Friday, December 16.
