ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The No. 12 Eckerd women's basketball team eclipsed the 10-win mark, as nine Tritons tallied points in a dominant victory over the Rollins College Tars, 83-45, on Thursday afternoon at the McArthur Center.
Eckerd jumped out to an early 10-point lead, shutting out the Tars for nearly five minutes, with points by Maya Price, Hannah Wentworth, and Sofia Persson. Aaliyah Irizarry-Perez answered back for the Tars, shortening the Tritons' lead to single digits before Cirkeline Rimdal gave Eckerd a double-digit favor again. Lauryn Vieira picked up a bucket after some settled offense, allowed by a steal from Persson. Nicole Scales hit a long 3-pointer with under three seconds to go in the period, giving Eckerd a 23-6 lead after the first quarter. To start the second quarter, Scales tallied three layups in the first three minutes of the second period. Vieira found her rhythm, driving to the basket as she converted two layups, along with an and-one free throw, in only 14 seconds. Paula Cirša collected her first point of the day off a layup late in the second, while pulling down two offensive boards. With one second remaining, Persson was fouled by Isabella Prada, and she added another point to take a 47-20 point advantage into the break.
An early block from Price, set up a great offensive opportunity, as the ball was fired around the arc before coming back up top to Scales where she netted another three. The Tritons' ball movement was impeccable, as they snapped the ball around the arc before kicking it back up top to Wentworth to net another three. Persson and Price combined for six blocks in the third frame alone, as the Tritons led 65-39 going into the final quarter. Ragnheidur Einarsdottir, Rimdal, and Ieva Korzane each added four points in the fourth quarter, with Cirša adding five. The game ended with an 83-45 margin over the Tars.
HOW IT ENDED
FINAL: No. 12 Eckerd 83, Rollins 45
RECORDS: Eckerd 10-2 (5-0 SSC); Rollins 5-6 (0-4 SSC)
NOTES AND NUMBERS
- Nine Tritons tallied points, with six posting double-digit figures: Wentworth (12), Scales (12), Vieira (12), Persson (11), Price (11), and Rimdal (10).
- Price led the Tritons' defense, recording four blocks and nine boards. Persson followed closely behind with eight rebounds, four steals, and two blocks.
- Cirša's six points were a career-high.
- Eckerd converted 17 points off turnovers, and 14 fastbreak points.
- Eckerd's nine blocks in the game are the most since nine versus Lynn on November 30, 2016.
QUOTABLE
"I was happy with the team's energy and effort following the holiday break. We got off to another fast start and set the tone early with our defense and rebounding," stated head coach Paul Honsinger '98. "I also thought our bench gave us a nice lift and finished the game well."
UP NEXT
The Tritons will hit the road in the new year, taking on the Sailfish of Palm Beach Atlantic on Sunday at the Rubin Arena with a 2:00 PM tipoff.
