WINTER PARK, Fla. (February 21, 2026) – Rollins women's basketball fell in a tight conference battle to Palm Beach Atlantic on Saturday afternoon, 76–71, inside Warden Arena.
The Tars came out firing to open the game.
Faith Newton sparked a 10–0 run, opening with a layup before knocking down a three following a defensive stop.
Elaina Kline-Ruminski added two off a
Claire Erickson assist, and Newton capped the early surge with a transition three off a
Victoria Escribano rebound and Erickson outlet. PBA finally got on the board, but Escribano answered at the free-throw line to steady the momentum.
Tara Murray knocked down a three off the bench to maintain the edge, and Erickson's floater in the lane kept Rollins in front as the Sailfish cut it to a possession at the end of one.
Palm Beach Atlantic briefly flipped the lead to open the second, but Newton responded immediately with another three to reclaim it. After another Sailfish basket, Newton struck again from deep to swing the momentum back. Erickson found
Makayla Daube for two on the next trip, and Escribano converted an and-one to stretch the lead. Kline-Ruminski followed with consecutive baskets, and Daube's tip-in pushed the margin to double digits. Erickson drilled a step-back three late in the half to send the Tars into the locker room with a 42–31 advantage.
The teams traded blows in the third, with Escribano and
Grace Craig opening the frame with finishes inside. Kline-Ruminski added a turnaround jumper, and Erickson matched a Sailfish score to keep the lead at 14. Newton connected on a mid-range jumper, and Craig capitalized on a turnover for two more. PBA closed the quarter on a small run, but
McKenna Murphy beat the buzzer with a three to give Rollins a 61–48 lead heading into the final frame.
Palm Beach Atlantic came out hot in the fourth, connecting from long range before Murphy answered to keep the lead in double figures. Kline-Ruminski added a pair of jumpers, and Craig knocked down free throws to preserve the cushion. Kline-Ruminski later converted at the line to push the lead back to 10, but a scoring drought opened the door for the Sailfish. PBA closed the game on a 15–0 run over the final five minutes to steal the 76–71 win.
Rollins honored its lone senior,
Claire Erickson, prior to the game. Erickson finished with nine points, seven assists, five rebounds, and two steals. Newton led the Tars with 18 points, while Kline-Ruminski added 15 and six boards. Escribano paced the team on the glass with eight rebounds. As a team, Rollins shot 38.1% from beyond the arc and scored 26 points in the paint.
Rollins moves to 7–19 overall and 2–17 in SSC play, while Palm Beach Atlantic improves to 12–14 (8–10 SSC). The Tars close out the season Wednesday, Feb. 25, with a 5:30 p.m. road matchup at No. 10 Nova Southeastern.
