#23 Spartans Fall to Tars on the Road

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final Score: Tampa Spartans 52, Rollins Tars 59
Records: Tampa (12-3, 5-3 SSC), Rollins (10-5, 5-4 SSC)
Location: Alfond Sports Center | Winter Park, Fla.
All-time Series: Tampa trails the all time series with the Tars, 44-55.
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HOW IT HAPPENED:

1st Half | Faith Sanders was the first player on the court to score with a layup that put the Spartans on the board. Rollins jumped out to an early lead as they made a jumper and back-to-back three pointers to obtain a six point lead. The teams traded baskets for the remainder of the first half, each team staying within two points of each other. Both the Spartans and the Tars started slow to open up the first half as they went 9-26 and 9-32 from the field, respectively. Staja Tyghter led all Spartans in the first half with nine points and seven rebounds. 

2nd Half |  Rollins came out of haltime on fire as they led by as many as 11 with six and half minutes left in the third quarter. Behind the offensive runs of Aliyah Abney and Karma Jeremie, the Spartans would take the lead, 37-33 after a jumper from Jeremie. The Tars wasted no time as they tied the game once again with 30 seconds left in the third quarter. The teams were neck and neck to open up the fourth quarter but the Tars took a nine point lead with a minute and a half left in the game. Tyghter helped to close in on the Tar's lead after making a jump shot. Despite the Spartans effort to close in on the Tar's lead, Rollins went on to win 59-52. 

INSIDE THE STATS:

• Tyghter was the leading point scorer for the Spartans with 18 points and 11 rebounds
• Jeremie was the second leading point scorer for the Spartans with 16 points

BEYOND THE BOXSCORE:

• Tyghter notched her fourth double-double of the season. 

UP NEXT:
Tampa will travel to Florida Tech on Saturday to take on the Panthers at 2 pm.

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