Late Run From Mocs Spoils Tars' Effort

WINTER PARK, Fla. (January 14, 2023) - The Rollins Tars put together one of the best-played games of the year on Saturday, but a late run from Florida Southern spoiled the effort as they took the game, 73-70. Rollins now stands at 6-10 on the year, with a 1-8 record in the SSC.

Both teams came out of the gate hot, scoring 15 combined points in the first two and half minutes of the game. Lucy Leen scored the first five for Rollins. After Southern converted a layup with 7:50 to go, the Tars' defense went into lockdown mode, holding the Mocs scoreless for the next 6:46 of game time. A late bucket from Erin Leigh gave Rollins a 19-10 lead after one. 

The Tars continued to hold the lead early into the second, peaking when a Leen layup have them a 23-12 lead. Southern would then go on a 8-0 scoring run to pull within one possession. The Rollins advantage would stay in the 4-7 point range for the remainder of the quarter, capped by an Emily McIntosh three that made the halftime score of 35-28. 

Scoring slowed down in the third, allowing the Mocs to slither all the way back to within two at 37-35. Kymora Westerfield stopped the run with a make from deep followed by yet another three from McIntosh to grow the lead back to 43-35. Claire Erickson then had a nice offensive showing, scoring five points in forty seconds late in the quarter. Rollins went up eleven with 1:21 to go in the period, but their defense gave up five points in the final minute, making it 53-47 at the horn. 

Southern carried the momentum into the final frame, eventually tying things up at 58 with six minutes to play. Westerfield, Erickson, and Aaliyah Irizarry-Perez all came through with big shots as the clock ticked down under three to go. Unfortunately, the Mocs tied the game with a three, and then took a lead on a second-chance layup and pair of free throws. Rollins pulled within two on a make from Irizarry, but Southern knocked down six of eight free throws in the final minute to hang on for a 73-70 win. 

Erickson was the leading scorer for Rollins with 13 points. Irizarry had a good all-around game with 10 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, and a block. McIntosh nailed four threes, and Leen added ten points. 

Next up for Rollins is a road matchup with the Lions in Saint Leo. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:30 pm on Wednesday, January 18.