weekly_112808

WEEKLY ATHLETIC SCHEDULE

Wednesday, November 30

Women's basketball vs. Flagler College – Alfond S.C. – 5:30 p.m.
Men's basketball vs. Florida Memorial – Alfond S.C. – 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, December 3

Women's basketball at Florida Tech – Melbourne, Fla. – 2 p.m.
Men's basketball at Florida Tech – Melbourne, Fla. – 4 p.m.

Senior Danielle Dalgin is a four year member of the Rollins College Cheerleading squad and is the 2005-06 captain. She leads the Tars cheerleaders in creating a high-spirited atmosphere in Warden Arena for both men's and women's basketball games. The cheerleaders are also charged with spreading the Tars spirit throughout Winter Park by donating their time and services to a variety of community volunteer projects.

The Rollins women's basketball team completed a season sweep of their Puerto Rico opponents last week, downing Mayaguez by 27 and beating Rio Piedras twice by an average of 44 points. The victories have the Tars off to their best start since the 2002-03 season when they were also 6-0.

Rollins matched up with Puerto Rico Rio-Piedras on Wednesday and used a pair of big runs to down the Jerezanas 69-37. The Tars were led by senior Joslyn Giles with 17 points and eight rebounds with junior Larissa McDonough putting up 16 points and pulling down a career high 12 boards.

The Tars scored five unanswered baskets early in the first half and a free throw to take a 14-2 lead. The Tars would hold the lead for the remainder of the game and would lead by as many as 19 in the first half and 37 in the second half. Late in the second half the Tars scored eight straight baskets to take the 37 point advantage, but Rio Piedras fought back by notching five free throws in the last four minutes to cut the Tars lead. Rollins had a rough night from the free throw line as they connected on only 14 of their 36 attempts and also struggled from the three-point line, going 3 for 17. Freshman Jennifer Dyer (Wake Forest, N.C.) had a team high six steals, while Giles (Winter Haven, Fla.) added four assists to her 17 points.

After a quick holiday break on Thursday, the Blue and Gold headed to Melbourne for the Florida Tech Thanksgiving Classic. Rollins opened with Puerto Rico Mayaguez and turned back the Janes 65-38. Leading the way for the Tars were seniors Joslyn Giles (Winter Haven, Fla.) and Randi Weiss (Kissimmee, Fla.), who both scored 13 points in the game. Weiss and freshman Jessica Barker (Orange City, Fla.) both had career nights on the boards grabbing nine rebounds apiece, as the Tars outrebounded the Janes 53-27. The first half saw the Janes keep the score close, as their tough defense put pressure on the Tars. With 14:15 remaining in the first half, the Janes cut the Tars lead to one after a three-pointer by junior Aixanell Santos. The Tars then went on a run of their own, pulling ahead by as many as 16 with 1:23 to go in the first half. Barker started the run for the Tars, hitting three jumpers in a three-minute span. At halftime, the Tars had pulled the lead to 36-23. The Janes tried to match the pace of the Tars in the second half, only to fall short in the long run. Both teams went 6-25 (.240) from the field in the second stanza, but the Tars added 17-29 (.586) from the line, while the Janes only went to the line three times in the second half (2-3, .667).

The following day, the Tars finished the tournament with a 101-45 drubbing of Rio Piedras. Leading the way for the Tars was Joslyn Giles with 16 points and freshman Jessica Barker with 13 points and eight rebounds. For their effort, both Giles and Barker were named to the Thanksgiving All-Classic team. During the first half, Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras kept the game close and with 11:51 remaining on the clock took a one point lead 14-13. The Tars shooting finally began to connect and the Tars went on a 34-10 run to finish out the first half. At the break, the Tars were up 47-24, led by Barker's nine points. The second half saw the Tars pull away, going up by as many as 61 points. Over a span of almost 11 minutes in the second half, the Tars held the Jerezanas to only five points (two free throws and one three pointer) while scoring 24 points themselves. Giles scored nine of her 16 in the second half while sophomore Rachael Workman (Northampton, Mass.) added seven. All 12 Tars found their way into the boxscore, with Workman and sophomore Jennifer Musgrove (Palm Bay, Fla.) scoring 12 apiece and senior Sally Johnston (Winter Springs, Fla.) adding 11 points. The Tars reached the free throw line a season high 53 times, connecting on 31 (.585) and out rebounded the Jerezanas 58-27.

Rollins' 101 points was the first time the Tars have reached the century mark since a 100-39 win over Mayaguez on November 18, 2000 and is the most since a 120-73 win over Monmouth (Ill.) on December 27, 1993.

Giles leads the Tars offense on the season as she is averaging 17.5 points per game. McDonough is also off to a fast start, putting up 15.8 per contest while the pair have identical rebound numbers, pulling down seven a game.

The Tars will return to Winter Park to take on Flagler College on Wednesday, November 30 with tip-off at Warden Arena set for 5:30 p.m. The Tars will then open up their Sunshine State Conference slate on Saturday, December 3 with a trip to Florida Tech. Game time is schedule for 2 p.m.

Coming off a tough loss to cross-town rival UCF the previous Friday, the Tars hosted West Florida on Monday and fell 69-59. The teams went back and forth early in the second half, but a very athletic Argonauts team handed the Tars the 10 point loss. Rollins sophomore point guard Jonny Reibel led the Tars in scoring with a game high 16 points. Reibel also grabbed six boards, dished out six assists, and grabbed two steals. Junior guard Deon Troupe was the only other Tar in double figures as he turned in 12 points. The frontcourt of Jordan Kolosey and Jon Smith put up decent numbers with each scoring eight points apiece. Sophomore guard Kevin Hogan, in only his second collegiate game, hit three three-point field goals against the team he grew up watching, as his father Don Hogan has been the coach of West Florida for the past 13 seasons. The two teams combined for 48 turnovers on the night, with Rollins accounting for 23 of the total. The Tars were also out-rebounded for the second straight game with the Argonauts holding a 38-29 advantage on the glass, and a 14-9 advantage on the offensive boards.

Early on it looked as if the Tars would have their way with the visitors. Rollins gained some momentum during the opening 10 minutes of the first half by forcing turnovers and starting the fast break. Jordan Kolosey's nasty left hand dunk with 10:37 left in the half put the Tars up 20-9. West Florida began to take over from there. The Argos went on a 17-6 run to finish the first half. And following a long three pointer by Donovan Redden, West Florida tied the game at 26 going into the locker room.

The two teams battled back in forth in the opening minutes of the second half with neither team taking control. But with the game tied at 40, West Florida began to put some baskets together. Deondre Boynton hit a long three pointer for the Argonauts and then followed it up with a steal and a lay-up to put the Argos up seven with 9:07 to go. The Tars would try to get back in it. Reibel hit a running jumper to cut the lead to three at 53-50 with 5:41 to go. But Rollins could get no closer. The Argos would go on a 16-9 run to finish the contest and pull off the upset on the road, 69-59.

On the season, Reibel leads three Tars who are averaging double figures with 15.3 points per game. John Thinnes is chipping in 11.3 while Deon Troupe is putting up 10.7. John Smith is the Tars leading rebounder, gathering five per game.

The Tars next hit the hardwood Wednesday, November 30 in Winter Park against NAIA school Florida Memorial with tip-off slated for 7:30 p.m. Rollins then has an early Sunshine State Conference date at Melbourne with the Florida Tech Panthers on Saturday, December 3 at 4 p.m.

After a very successful Fall season, the Rollins women's tennis team was placed seventh in the latest ITA national poll. The Tars are

also third in the region behind Sunshine State Conference foes Barry, who is third in the nation and Lynn, who checks in at fifth.

Junior Tasi Purcell (Orlando, Fla.) is currently the 15 th ranked singles player in the nation with Marnie Mahler (Naples, Fla.) ranked 42 nd . As a doubles team, the pair is ranked seventh in Division II. Regionally, Purcell is fourth, Mahler is 10 th and freshman Anastasiya Shevchenko (Kyiv, Ukraine) is 15 th in singles. In doubles, Purcell and Malher are ranked second while Shevchenko and Sonia Bernal (Bogota, Colombia) are ranked ninth.

The women's tennis team opens their spring season on Wednesday, February 8 at home against Stetson. Play is scheduled to begin at 3:30 p.m.

The Rollins men's tennis team will head into the 2006 spring season ranked eighth in the latest ITA Division II national poll and third in the Southeast region.

Senior Carlos Custodio (Porto Alefre, Brazil), back after taking a year off, is the 19 th ranked singles player in the land with fellow veteran David Tafur (Longwood, Fla.) coming in at 48. In the region, Custodio is sixth and Tafur is 10 th in singles. On the doubles side, the pair are the eighth ranked team in the region while Jonathan Gomez (Diego Martin, Trinidad) and Mike Compton (Cincinnati, Ohio) are 10 th .

The Rollins men's tennis team will hit the courts on Thursday, February 2 at home against UCF to open the season. Competition is slated to begin at 2:30 p.m.

Sponsorship is needed for the Tars men's and women's basketball broadcasts on WPRK 91.5. If you are interested, please contact Sports Information Director Nate Weyant at nweyant@rollins.edu or 407-646-2661.