TAMPA, Fla. (February 17, 2024) - Women's basketball put up a good fight against #5 Tampa, but were outscored in the fourth quarter to drop the matchup, 64-54. The Tars now stand at 11-12, 8-9 SSC while the Spartans improve to 23-5, 14-3 SSC.
Tampa jumped out to a 9-0 lead in the first quarter, but the Tars eventually got things going on offense. Two straight conversions from
Maddie Dillinger brought them within six points, and moments later the lead was cut to five with a
Faith Newton three. The score after one was 20-15, Tampa.
Rollins continued their comeback in the second with a tremendous defensive effort. They held the Spartans scoreless for the first four minutes of the quarter, and managed to come back and tie the game at 20. After Tampa retook the lead, a pair of layups from
Aaliyah Irizarry-Perez and
Kaitlyn Sanders knotted the score once more. Another make from Irizarry-Perez in the final minute brought Rollins within one at 30-29 as the teams entered the halftime break.
The Tars took their first lead of the game in the third quarter on a
Lucy Leen layup.
Ajalon Gillard and Leen then connected on three-pointers to give Rollins a two-possession advantage. Dillinger scored the last six points of the period for Rollins, but a last second jumper from Tampa gave the Spartans a 43-42 lead heading into the fourth.
The game took a turn in the fourth as the Spartans finally found their way through the Tars tenacious defense. They would shoot 6-7 from the field and 8-8 from the free throw line to close out the game while the Tars only managed 11 points in the final frame.
Dillinger led the Tar offense with 17 points while collecting five rebounds. Leen added ten points and six boards of her own. Sarah Jones was the high scorer in the game with 20 points for the Spartans.
Next up for Rollins is a road game at Lynn on Wednesday, February 21. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:30 pm.
