BOCA RATON, Fla.- Lynn University's women's basketball team fell 69-52 in the Sunshine State Conference season opener against No. 15 Rollins (6-1) at home on Thursday night. Charla Nelson-James scored a team-high 11 points with four rebounds and a pair of blocks. The Fighting Knights fall to 3-2 overall and 0-1 in SSC play and will have a week's rest before taking on Shaw on December 16. 

Nelson-James put Lynn on the scoreboard first with a layup on an assist by Shatorria Baker. A minute later a pair of free throws by Baker would give the Blue & White its largest lead of the first half, 4-0. Rollins answered back however, with a 9-0 run, to take a lead which it would hold until Tiffani Kerrison drained a three-point shot at 12:12 to put the Fighting Knights ahead 12-11. The Tars once again answered back quickly and would lead by as much as 14 before the buzzer. Lynn closed out the half on a 8-2 run to trail Rollins 34-26 at halftime. 

Lynn shot 30.8 percent from the field and was out-rebounded by RC 28-15. Kerrison scored a team-best eight points in the half while Rollins was led by Ashley Losch who had nine points. The Tars shot 38.9 percent from the field and only connected on 3-of-15 three-point shots due to the Fighting Knights tight defense on the perimeter. 

Rollins opened the second half on a 12-5 run to lead 46-31 at the 15 minute mark and had a 20-point advantage at 9:32 leading 57-37. A pair of treys by Tylar Tracy and Baker cut Lynn's deficit to 13 with under seven minutes remaining But an 8-2 Tars run gave RC a comfortable cushion with four minutes remaining in regulation which they held on to win 69-52. 

Lynn improved to shoot 44.4 percent from the from the field and grabbed down 14 rebounds, just two less than the Tars. RC had 14 points in the paint while Lynn had eight. Brown led the Blue & White in points and rebounds in the final frame.

The Fighting Knights shot 36.4 percent throughout the loss while Rollins shot 43.1 percent from the field. Rollins had three players in double figures and were led by Losch who had a game-high 16 points.

Lynn (3-2) will host Shaw at 2 pm on December 16 in the de Hoernle Sports & Cultural Center for their next contest. To learn more about the women's basketball team log on to LynnFightingKnights.com. Make sure to 'Like' us on Facebook and follow @Lynn_Knights on Twitter and Instagram.