SAINT LEO, Fla. – Senior Asia Royster came off the bench and sparked the Lions' offensive push scoring a season-high 14 points in the Saint Leo University's 67-54 setback to Rollins College Saturday afternoon to close out the 2018 year.
 
Saint Leo (6-6, 1-3 SSC) matched Rollins (7-3, 4-0 SSC) in bench points with 22 where Royster had 14 of them for the Green and Gold. Gina Brierley tallied 11 in the loss ahead of Casey Wortley's eight and Alani Gallagher's seven.
 
Carly McLendon paced the Tars with 14 points where Yari Martinez-Toro and Rachel Lia notched double-figures with 11 and 10, respectively. Vernisha Andrews cleaned the boards snatching 12 defensive boards for a game-high.

"I thought we showed heart, fight, and character in the second half," said head coach Anthony Crocitto. "Hats off to Rollins and their coaches as they outplayed us tonight."
 
"We must rebound the ball better and show more confidence on the offensive end," explained Crocitto. "We are capable of another level and we will rebound in 2019, literally and figuratively."


How It Happened

• Rollins came out in the first quarter and controlled the first six minutes going up by as many as five, 9-4 and 11-6, before the Lions rallied to tie things at 11-11 on a Asia Royster jumper. Following a 13-13 tie, the Tars would extend their lead to five at the end of the opening period, 18-13.
• Saint Leo used 13 bench points in the second quarter, including three from Abby Zeitsiff who cut the deficit to four points, 32-28 with 2:21 to go. The Tars would head into the locker room with a nine-point lead, 37-29, after 20-minutes of action.
• A slow start in the third quarter allowed Rollins to charge out to a 16 point lead before the Lions chipped away at the deficit and cut it to nine points, 46-37 with 3:30 to go and again at 53-44 with a minute to play in the quarter.
• Saint Leo would get within eight points on an Alex Button free throw and again on an Royster jumper before the Tars pushed the lead back to double-digits and eventually went on for the 13-point road win, 67-54.

Up Next
Saint Leo returns to action in the New Year on Wednesday, Jan. 2 in Boca Raton as the Lions take on the Lynn Fighting Knights at 5:30 p.m.
  
For the latest news, updates, and information on the Saint Leo women's basketball, be sure to visit SaintLeoLions.com. Fans can also stay up-to-date on the latest Lions news by following Saint Leo Athletics on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.