LAKELAND, Fla. (November 9, 2024) – Women's basketball suffered a tough loss on Saturday morning, falling to the Alabama-Huntsville Chargers, 55-54. The Tars move to 0-2 on the season, while UAH improves to 1-1.
The early morning start showed its effects early on as both teams struggled to get going in the first quarter.
Kaitlyn Sanders opened the scoring with a layup, followed by a free throw and bucket from
Ajalon Gillard. The Chargers scored their first points at the 7:47 mark, but would not add to their total until 2:48 was left in the quarter, going nearly five minutes without a point. Unfortunately, Rollins was only able to score three points in that timeframe. UAH made a late run, and took a 13-12 lead at the end of the quarter.
The Chargers controlled most of the second quarter, going up by as many as eight at 26-18. Thankfully for Rollins,
Emily McIntosh was able to knock down a couple of threes to keep the game tight. The halftime score was Alabama Huntsville 27, Rollins 23.
Both teams combined to shoot only 21-67 (31%) from the floor in the first half, including 4-29 (14%) from three.
Rollins came out of the break with new energy, ripping off a quick 7-0 run with makes from
Faith Newton, Sanders, and a three from Gillard, giving them a 30-27 lead. The offense fizzled out in the middle of the quarter, but a buzzer-beating layup from Gillard kept it a four-point game, 41-37, at the end of three.
Huntsville would go up by as many as seven in the final frame, but Rollins was able to hang tight. A three from McIntosh and a pair of makes from
Paris Triplett gave Rollins the lead with 4:21 to play.
Rollins caught a big break when
Claire Erickson forced a steal and fed
Aaliyah Irizarry-Perez for a breakaway layup, putting Rollins ahead once more with 2:43 to go. After the Chargers retook the lead, Erickson knocked down a pair of free throws to put the game back the Tars' favor, 52-51 with 90 seconds to play.
Huntsville scored on the ensuing possession, followed by a Rollins turnover. After a free throw to make it 54-52, Rollins missed a jumper, but the ball went out of bounds off a Charger. On the inbounds play, Irizarry-Perez tripped as the pass from Gillard was coming her way, leading to another late turnover for the Tars. Huntsville knocked down a free throw, and a potential game-tying three from Sanders rimmed out. She followed her shot and made a layup at the buzzer to make the final of 55-54.
Rollins ended with final percentages of 33% from the floor, 17% from three, and 57% from the line. McIntosh was the leading scorer with nine, while Sanders and Gillard added eight each. Lili Wilken led all scorers with 15 for Huntsville.
Next up for the Tars is the SSC opener against Palm Beach Atlantic. Rollins will host the Sailfish at Warden Arena on Tuesday, November 12 at 5:30 pm.
