WINTER PARK, Fla. – The Florida Southern College women's basketball team defeated Rollins College in comeback fashion by a final score of 73-70 on Saturday afternoon.
The Moccasins (10-6, 6-3 SSC) trailed for the vast majority of the contest, but used a big fourth quarter to earn their third consecutive win, handing the Tars (6-10, 1-8 SSC) their fourth straight loss in the process.
The teams exchanged baskets to start the game, as
Marissa Jenike sank a shot from beyond the arc in the opening minute to keep Florida Southern in contention early despite an onslaught of three-pointers from the Tars.
Rollins would drain five three-pointers in the opening quarter, giving the team a 17-7 lead with two minutes to play in the initial frame.
Domenica Zamora would briefly slow the Tars with an impressive three-point play of her own, drawing a foul while finishing a tough layup in the lane. The senior would go on to score 18 points on the day.
The Tars took a 19-10 lead into the second quarter, as the Mocs shot just 28% from the field to start the game.
Anna Denes scored her first basket of the game in the opening minute, but again Rollins responded with a pair of shots to make it a 23-12 game with seven and a half minutes to play.
After falling behind by eleven points for the first time, the Moccasins responded with an eight-point run over the course of the next two minutes.
The teams would exchange scoring possessions for the rest of the half before the Tars found a mini run to take a 35-28 lead, ending the half on a 5-0 run.
Ashley Shell was perfect in the second quarter, notching nine points after starting the game 1-5 from the field.
The Moccasins brought the game back within two points after
Sydney Gomes scored back-to-back buckets to make it 37-35 with seven minutes to play in the third.
Again, the Tars used the long ball to build separation, as Rollins drilled four three-pointers in the quarter to maintain the lead.
Arielle Dabu had a big three-pointer in response to make the game 43-38 as the Moccasins continued to trim the deficit with under five minutes to go.
Rollins would then embark on a 10-4 scoring run, momentarily rebuilding their game-high 11-point lead with a minute to go in the quarter, but Zamora logged five points in the waning seconds to make it a 53-47 ballgame headed into the final frame.
Amari Jackson and
Na'Haviya Paxton each scored their first points of the game in the opening minute of the fourth, with the freshmen making it a two-point game once again, 53-51.
Over the course of the next couple minutes, the teams exchanged baskets, with Zamora making it a one-point game after a pair of free throws to make it 56-55 with just under seven minutes to play.
Finally, the Mocs were able to eventually tie the game when Paxton drilled a three-pointer with six minutes to play, the score even at 58.
The teams traded scoring possessions in the final five minutes, as Dabu sank two huge three-pointers to keep the game close down the stretch.
Finally, with just over two minutes to play, the Moccasins took their first lead of the game since leading 2-0 when Shell scored in the lane to make it 66-64.
After a defensive stand, Zamora went to the free throw line with just over a minute to go, draining both shots to make it 68-64 Florida Southern. The Tars didn't go away easily, making it a one-possession game yet again, 68-66, with 48 seconds to go.
Zamora went back to the line seconds later, again making both shots to extend the lead to four. She finished the day a perfect ten-for-ten from the free-throw line.
Shell would effectively end the game in a fitting way, making both of her free throws to put the game out of reach with 18 seconds to play, putting the Mocs up 72-67.
Another Moccasin free-throw and a late three-pointer from the Tars brought the final score to 73-70.
Florida Southern will look ahead to Wednesday night, when they'll host the red-hot University of Tampa Spartans, coming in with a record of 16-1, and 8-1 in the SSC.
