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MELBOURNE, Fla. – The Florida Tech women’s basketball team used all 40 minutes to defeat the Rollins College Tars on Wednesday night. Tai Roberts drilled the game-winning layup with less than a second on the clock to secure the victory for the Panthers.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final: Florida Tech 72, Rollins
Records: Florida Tech (4-2, 1-1 SSC), Rollins (3-4, 1-2 SSC)
Location: Charles & Ruth Clemente Center | Melbourne, Fla.
 
FIRST QUARTER:

• Panthers took the opening tip-off and worked a Sarah Liberatore three-pointer to begin the game.
• After three defensive stops, including a Breazia Robinson block, Mikayla extended the lead to 5-0 with a jumper in the paint.
• In a 5-4 game, Kyandra Poitier stole the ball from Rollins at their baseline to keep Tech in the lead with five minutes remaining in the quarter.
• However, on their next offensive possession, the Tars hit a 10-foot jump for their first lead of the game on a 6-0 run before the first media timeout.
• Out of the timeout, Roberts forced a Tars shooting foul and hit both free throws to regain the lead for the Panthers. However, Rollins took the advantage right back in the following possession at the charity stripe.
• Both teams continue to draw fouls and get to the free-throw line towards the end of the quarter.
• Rollins cashed in on three of their last three shots to take a 15-12 edge into the quarter.

 
SECOND QUARTER:

• Rollins started the second quarter with a made free throw and a three-pointer. But the Panthers responded with a Dalma Ehmann layup under the basket and a Divine Guthrie steal that led to two made free throws from Guthrie. The Tars still had the 19-16 advantage.
• After the media timeout, the Tars drained a three, then grabbed two steals that led to a layup and another three to extend their lead to an 11-point difference.

 
THIRD QUARTER:

• Open the second half with two defensive stops, then Robinson drilled a baseline jumper for the first points of the half for either team. Emily Acampora drained her first three of the game in the following possession, helping the Panthers draw within eight points.
• Four minutes into the quarter, the Panthers were on a 6-0 run and only down 35-30.
• Down 41-32, Nadine Johnson makes a defensive stand, taking the ball from Rollins and driving up the court for the basket. On the next possession, Johnson hits a jumper, bringing Tech closer only down 41-36 with two minutes left in the quarter.

 
 FOURTH QUARTER:

• Guthrie cashed in on the first points of the quarter, making it a five-point game at the start of the final quarter.
• Both teams struggled to score for almost two minutes until Ehmann drew a shooting foul with under seven to go, hitting one of two.
• The Panthers forced three turnovers in three straight Rollins possessions. Johnson and Robinson capitalized with mid-range baskets. Tech was down by four, 49-45, at the final media timeout.
• The gap was officially closed when Rollins was issued a technical foul. Acampora made the free throws, and Roberts made a baseline layup, tying the game at 49 apiece.
• Tech retakes the lead at 55-53 with a Poitier floater in the paint with a minute left in the game. Rollins proceeded to have an offensive foul, giving the ball right back to the Panthers.
• With three seconds on the clock, Roberts took the inbound pass and drove to the basket. After rolling on the rim, it fell for the 57-55 edge, and the foul and free throw made it 58-55 with 0.7 remaining.
• After a technical free throw made by Rollins, they could not make the shot in the time left on the clock. Tech grabbed their first conference win by a score of 58-56.

NOTABLE PANTHERS:

• Tai Roberts and Mikayla Morin led the Panthers in scoring with nine points each. Roberts added in three rebounds and three assists while Morin chipped in four boards and a block.
• Emily Acampora did a little bit of everything with six points, four rebounds, and four assists on the night.

 
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE:

• The Panthers are now 27-60 against the Tars all-time and 14-26 at home.
• Emily Acampora is one three-pointer away from the Florida Tech top 10 in career three-pointers made.

 
UP NEXT: Florida Tech will hit the road, traveling to Embry-Riddle on Wednesday, December 4. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m. ET