BOCA RATON, Fla. - Lynn women's basketball opened Sunshine State Conference play in winning fashion on Saturday afternoon, using timely shot-making, strong bench production and a gritty defensive finish to secure a 63-58 victory over Rollins inside the de Hoernle Sports and Cultural Center.
 
The Fighting Knights drilled 11 three-pointers and held the Tars to 34.3% shooting, led by double-doubles from Katie Tiffan and Trinity Mocadlo and a 13-point outing from Angelina Deleon. After Rollins made a late push, Lynn tightened up defensively and closed the game with poise to improve to 3-1 on the year and 1-0 in Sunshine State Conference play.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Rollins scored the first bucket of the afternoon, but Lynn answered immediately as Mocadlo drilled a three and Tiffan finished a layup in transition to put the Fighting Knights in front, 5-2
- Deleon joined the early perimeter barrage with a wing three for an 8-4 edge, then Mocadlo added a free throw to make it 9-4 before the Tars responded with a pair of threes to stay within one possession
- Lynn's bench provided a major first-quarter spark as Tessa O'Leary converted an and-one driving layup on the break and Hannah Wentworth buried a three off a Rollins turnover, stretching the lead to 18-10
- The Tars clawed back with second-chance threes to briefly grab a 19-18 lead, but Kennedi Neale knocked down a pull-up in the lane and Emily Jean-Glaude hit two clutch free throws before Mocadlo splashed a late three, sending Lynn to the first-quarter break up 32-30
- Tiffan opened the second frame with a layup off a feed from Serena Baker, then stepped out to bury a three as the Fighting Knights pushed the margin back to 23-19
- O'Leary again ignited the transition game, racing coast-to-coast for a three-point play, while Neale scored in the paint and Jean-Glaude cashed in at the stripe to help Lynn methodically build a 51-42 advantage at halftime
- Deleon set the tone out of the locker room by drawing a foul on a three-pointer and calmly knocking down all three free throws, and Tiffan followed with two more at the line as Lynn answered an early Rollins push to stay in front, 37-30
- After the Tars closed to 51-49 with a 7-0 burst, the Blue and White punched back with a pivotal stretch as Baker drilled a three, Mocadlo connected from deep off a Deleon kick-out, and Wentworth sliced in for a layup to restore a 56-49 cushion
- Deleon delivered another dagger from beyond the arc at the top of the key to make it 59-51, and Baker added back-to-back jumpers and finishes in the lane as Lynn maintained a multiple-possession lead headed into the final minutes
- In the closing stretch, the Fighting Knights leaned on defense and the glass, highlighted by a Baker block on a Rollins drive and several key rebounds from Tiffan and Mocadlo, before Tiffan capped her strong night with a late three to push the margin back to 11 at 51-40
- Rollins hit a deep three in the final seconds to trim the deficit, but Lynn calmly handled the final possession as the Fighting Knights closed out a 63-58 win over the Tars to open Sunshine State Conference play with a home victory
 
FIGHTING KNIGHT STATS:
- Lynn shot 37.7% from the field, 36.7% from three (11-for-30) and 70.6% from the line (12-for-17)
- Lynn held Rollins to 34.3% shooting and 33.3% from three, including just 11 second-quarter points allowed
- Tiffan posted a 15-point double-double with 10 rebounds, shooting 5-for-9 and 2-for-3 from deep
- Mocadlo filled the stat sheet with 13 points, 10 rebounds and 6 assists, hitting four three-pointers
- Deleon added 13 points, knocking down 3-of-4 from beyond the arc with 5 rebounds and a steal
- Baker totaled 7 points, 3 assists, 3 rebounds, including a key block in the fourth quarter
- Wentworth contributed 5 points and 2 assists while playing 38 minutes
- O'Leary gave Lynn a spark off the bench with 5 points, 4 rebounds and a block in 10 minutes
- Jean-Glaude and Neale supplied four combined bench points, highlighted by Neale's clutch second-quarter jumper
- Lynn won the rebounding battle 38-36, including 30 defensive boards and 8 offensive rebounds
 
UP NEXT:
Lynn returns to action on Tuesday, Nov. 25 at 2:00 pm to host regional foe Valdosta State at the de Hoernle Sports and Cultural Center