Box Score WINTER PARK, Fla. – For the second time this season, the Eckerd College women's basketball team defeated top 25 opponent Rollins College, 61-58 on Saturday.
The Tritons and Tars exchanged points back and forth early on in the first half until Rollins created separation and jumped out to a15-7 lead. A jumper by
Rana Thomas followed by a three pointer from
Victoria Vine brought EC back within three.
Midway through the first half,
Ivana Grbic made it a one point game after crossing over the defense to drop in the layup. Grbic was just beginning what would become a stellar night on the court.
The Tars retained the lead for the rest of the first half, but could not pull away with the Tritons on their heels up and down the court. Rollins went up by eight with less than two minutes to go in the half. Grbic took the ball down the court and hit a deep three to bring it back to a five point game, but trailed at halftime 32-24.
Eckerd trailed by 11 with 13:14 to go in the second half.
Trine Kasemagi started the Triton rally with a layup drawing the foul and hitting her free throw to complete the three point play. On the team's next possession, Kasemagi was right back at it dropping in two more points. Grbic contributed to the run with a lay in off the glass to get within three.
Kayla Bowlin drained a three from downtown with 7:21 left to give EC their first lead since the opening minutes of the game. In all, Eckerd's offense ripped off a 20-4 run spanning over eight minutes. The Tars retook the lead, 58-57, with a minute left in regulation. Kasemagi took a pass from Bowlin putting it in for the go ahead two points. On defense, the freshman made a huge block giving her team back the ball before being fouled. Kasemagi sunk both shots clinching the 61-58 upset.
"We got a big lift from Ivana and Trine tonight, especially in the second half," said Head Coach,
Paul Honsinger. "They proved to be difficult matchups for Rollins and we were able to capitalize on that. Overall, I was very proud of our fight to make the comeback and our defense held on for the win."
Grbic ended with a double-double scoring 19 points and pulling down 14 rebounds. Kasemagi dropped 19 points while shooting 50 percent from the floor. Vine and Bowlin added nine and seven points respectively.
The win marks the 18
th victory of the season, the most in a single season in program history. It is also the first time the Tritons have taken down three nationally ranked opponents in one season.
Eckerd (18-6, 8-5) will get back to the McArthur Center on Wednesday to take on Florida Southern College (11-11, 5-7). Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
