Tampa Rolls Past Rollins For SSC Tournament Championship
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - For the third time in four seasons, The University of Tampa Spartans women's basketball won the Sunshine State Conference tournament, defeating Rollins 55-29 Sunday. The win was the 25th of the season for Tampa, the highest mark in program history.
It is the 12th consecutive victory for Tampa (25-5), extending the school record the Spartans broke in the semifinals. Capturing the tournament title along with the regular season championship - Tampa shared it with Rollins (25-5) - also has never been done in UT history.
Tiara Cook was once again spectacular for the Spartans on Sunday, recording her second double-double in as many days. The junior was good for 14 points and 11 rebounds and also blocked a career-high seven shots.
Gianna Messina led the Spartans in scoring with 16 points on the day including three treys. Both Cook and Messina were named to the all-tournament team with the sophomore Tampa native being named the tournament's Most Valuable Player.
The Tars led by three early in the contest but Messina's three-pointer at the 9:55 mark gave Tampa the lead, and the Spartans would not look back. UT led by 16 at the half.
Tampa held Rollins to shoot just 21.0 percent from the field during the contest.
The game will be telecast on a tape-delay basis by Comcast Charter Sports Southeast and Bright House Sports Network. The game will air on BHSN (Ch. 47 in Tampa area) on Fri., March 13 at noon and on Sat., March 14 at 3 p.m. It will show on CCSS on Mon., March 16 at 7 p.m.
The Spartans will now await word of where the automatic bid for the NCAA tournament earned today will send them. Fans can tune into a webcast on ncaa.com at 9 p.m. tonight for the selection show.