DAYTONA, FL – The Emmanuel Women's Basketball team continued play in the 2025 ERAU Holiday Classic this afternoon with a matchup against the Rollins College Tars. The Tars jumped out ahead early, but the Lions responded well behind a big first half by Naomi Roberts to give the Lions the 31-24 lead at the break. The second half saw the Tars quickly cut the Lions lead to one point, but Emmanuel answered quickly.  The Lions shot over 60% in the third quarter to push their lead to 10 points and they held on to earn the 70-62 victory to move to 9-3 on the season. 

Rollins jumped out to an early 8-3 lead, but the Lions responded with 9 points in the first quarter by Naomi Roberts to give Emmanuel the 14-11 lead with 1:24 to play. Natalee Goff closed out the quarter with a jumper to make it 16-11, Lions after the first. The Lions shot 44% from the field, connecting on 2-7 from the three-point line. 

The Tars tied the game at 16-16 early in the 2^nd quarter, but the Lions responded quickly to retake the lead on a jumper by Goff to put the Lions up 19-16. The Lions continued an 8-0 scoring run, with Roberts and Carmen Cabello-Rivera connecting from beyond the arc to put the Lions up 27-18 with 4:06 to play in the quarter. A jumper by Roberts with 1:33 to play gave the Lions their largest lead of the night, 31-20. Emmanuel took a 31-24 lead into the break. In the second quarter, the Lions shot 43% from the field, connecting on 3-7 from beyond the arc. 

The Tars opened up the third quarter on a run, cutting the Lions lead to 31-30. Hannah Harris and Kate Jackson connected on back-to-back three-pointers to push the Lions lead back up to six, 36-30 but Rollins responded with a three of their own to make it 36-33 with 7:00 remaining in the quarter. With 4:32 to play in the quarter, the Tars tied the game at 38-38 but Natalee Goff responded with a bucket to put the Lions back up, 40-38. The Lions continued a 7-0 run with consecutive jumpers by Roberts but the Tars closed out the quarter strong to trail by five, 49-44 after the third. The Lions shot 8-17 from the field in the quarter, connecting on 1-3 from three-point range. 

Kate Jackson opened the fourth quarter with four quick points to make it 53-45 Lions. A three-point jumper by Goff and a layup from Roberts helped push the Lions lead to 10, 59-49 with 6:34 to play. Back to back threes by Rollins put the Tars within four points with 5:34 to play, but the Lions responded with key plays by Roberts to put the Lions back up 10, 67-57 with 3:08 to play. The Lions closed out the game strong to earn the 70-62 victory. 

Naomi Roberts led all scorers with 30 points and 10 rebounds, with Natalee Goff adding 13 points and Kate Jackson picking up another double-double, 11 points and 10 rebounds. Hannah Harris led the Lions with 5 assists on the afternoon. 

The Lions will be back in action on January 3 as they travel to Mount Olive, NC to face University of Mount Olive in conference play at 2PM.

For more information on Emmanuel University athletics, visit goeulions.com.