WINTER PARK, Fla. (February 3, 2024) – The Rollins women's basketball team dropped a 75-72 decision to visiting Palm Beach Atlantic in overtime on Saturday afternoon at the Alfond Sports Center. The loss drops the Tars to 9-10 overall, 6-7 in SSC play, while the Sailfish improve to 12-9 on the year and an identical 6-7 in conference games.
Lucy Leen led the Tars with 17 points and added six rebounds, while
Aaliyah Irizarry-Perez registered a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds.
Ajalon Gillard and
Kaitlyn Sanders each dished out a team-high three assists, and
Erin Leigh grabbed a team-leading three steals.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
First Quarter
- PBA scored the first 11 points of the contest before a Gillard jumper got Rollins on the board at the 5:33 mark.
- The Sailfish extended their lead to as many as 14 (16-2) before the Tars scored the final five points of the period to make it a 16-7 game after the first 10 minutes.
Second Quarter
- The Blue and Gold used a 9-0 run to trim the deficit to just three points (25-22) at the 4:28 mark of the second.
- A triple from Leen tied things up at 28 with 1:51 to go in the half, and the Tars would remain level with the Sailfish, 32-32, going into halftime.
Third Quarter
- Gillard opened the second-half scoring with a three to give Rollins its first lead of the game, 35-32, just 33 seconds into the third quarter.
- The lead bounced back and forth a couple of times before an 11-0 spurt put the visitors back in front, 48-38.
- Rollins answered back, chipping away at the deficit to make it a two-point contest (50-48) heading to the fourth.
Fourth Quarter
- Palm Beach Atlantic maintained a slim lead until just past halfway through the fourth quarter, when a pair of free throws from Faith Newton put the Tars ahead, 61-60.
- The Sailfish scored the next four points to retake the lead, but a few minutes later a three from Leen tied the game at 66 with 1:32 to go in regulation.
- That field goal would prove to be the final points of regulation, as the two sides combined for one missed field goal and four turnovers in the final 90 seconds.
Overtime
- Irizarry-Perez made a layup less than a minute into overtime to put Rollins up by two, 68-66.
- After PBA made a three, a jumper from Claire Erickson gave the Tars a one-point edge, 70-69.
- The Sailfish scored the next four points to go up 73-70 before a pair of Leen free throws cut the margin to one point at 73-72 with 43 seconds on the clock.
- A Palm Beach Atlantic field goal with 16 seconds left proved to be the dagger as the Sailfish escaped with a 75-72 win.
UP NEXT:
The Tars will return to action on Wednesday, February 7 when they travel to Saint Leo for another SSC contest. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m.
Fans can follow the Tars all season long at RollinsSports.com. Fans can also stay up-to-date on the latest #TARnation news by following Rollins Sports on
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