ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. (November 24, 2007) - Christine Haber (Sr., Libertyville, Ill.) registered a double-double and NSU used a first-half 14-0 run to pull away from the Flagler College Saints (0-4) en route to a 76-58 Nova Southeastern (2-2) victory on Saturday afternoon at Flagler Gym.
In a first half that saw five ties and seven lead changes, the score remained tight until a layup by Flagler's Sierra Jones made it 19-19 with 8:37 remaining in the stanza. Five unanswered points by NSU's Ashley Wilson (Sr., Coral Springs, Fla.) proved to be the catalyst for NSU's 14-0 run, capped by a conventional three-point play converted by Amber Bishko (Sr., Orlando, Fla.)
Brittany Garmon, who finished with a double-double for the Saints, capped Flagler's first half scoring with 48 seconds left but Wilson answered right back with a three-pointer 15 seconds later to send the teams into the intermission with NSU leading 42-28.
Bishko scored 13 of her team-high 19 points in the first half on 4-of-6 shooting. The Sharks went 11-for-11 from the charity stripe in the first frame while point guard Abbie Tepe (Fr., Cincinnati, Ohio) tallied five assists to no turnovers. As a team, the Sharks amassed a 12-6 assist to turnover ratio in the half.
The Sharks started the second half with the same intensity, going on a 14-6 run which included an "and one" converted by Haber, a three by Tepe and layups by Bishko, Haber and Brittany Green (Sr., Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)
Down 56-34 with 13:24 remaining, the Saints began chipping away at the Sharks' lead, starting with back-to-back baskets by Adrienne Donelson. With 4:48 left, a made free throw by Flagler forward Kim Lane closed the gap to 66-53 but two free throws by Wilson and a basket by Bishko iced the game, en route to the 18-point win.
For the game, Haber finished with 15 points and 10 rebounds before fouling out while Bishko and Garmon led all scorers with 19 points. Garmon also grabbed 16 boards before fouling out.
"I was really thrilled to see Christine come out and play the way we've seen her play in the preseason. She's got great hands in the post and great presence in the paint and finishes well," Coach Marilyn Rule said after the game.
"She was aggressive on the boards and perfect from the free throw line so we'd like to see her continue that from here on out."
Wilson scored 10 points and added four rebounds, four assists, and three steals. LaShawnna Edwards (So., North Miami Beach, Fla.) came off the bench for NSU and added 10 points and nine rebounds and three steals.
"'Shawn' is by far one of our most athletic players. It's great to see her playing with confidence and playing the way we know she can. She's been playing out of position [in the post] and her rebounding has been tremendous," Rule said.
The Sharks finished with a 20-16 assist to turnover ratio while forcing Flagler to commit 18 turnovers on 11 steals. Lastly, NSU outrebounded Flagler 49-43.
Nova Southeastern will return to action on Saturday, December 1 as they host the Florida Southern Moccasins in both teams' Sunshine State Conference openers.
"With our first conference game next week everyone's excited about playing Florida Southern at home. Our kids are playing with confidence and I know Florida Southern is an improved team from last year so we look forward to a great game," Rule stated.
