TAMPA, Fla. (January 5, 2008) - After trailing by as many as 12 points in the first half, NSU point guard Abbie Tepe (Fr., Cincinnati, Ohio) gave the Sharks a 38-37 lead with 10:04 left in the game. The Tampa Spartans would go on to outscore NSU 25-15 the rest of the way as the Spartans (9-2, 2-0 SSC), two-time defending SSC Tournament Champions, defeated Nova Southeastern (7-5, 1-1 SSC) by a score of 63-52 on Saturday afternoon at Tampa's Bob Martinez Center.

Things looked bleak at the outset for NSU as Tampa jumped out to a 22-10 lead with 6:46 left in the first stanza but the Sharks would outscore UT 8-4 for the remainder of the first frame to send the teams to the locker room with Tampa leading 26-18. As the score would indicate, neither team shot particularly well in the first half as Tampa shot 31 percent while NSU shot 28.6 percent from the field.

The Sharks started the second half very well as they scored six unanswered points and recorded four consecutive defensive stops to pull within two. The teams traded baskets until back-to-back made threes by Eliza Allen (Jr., Hegenheim, France) tied the game at 34-34 with 13:07 remaining.

Tampa's Alexa Kane scored three points in two possessions but layups by Amber Bishko (Sr., Orlando, Fla.) and Tepe gave the Sharks their first lead of the game with 10:04 remaining. A minute later, DeShaydia Mackey made a three to put the Spartans back up for good, sparking the 25-15 game-clinching run.

For the game, NSU center Stephanie Sarosi (So., Mims, Fla.) led the Sharks with 15 points and 12 rebounds while guard Ashley Wilson (Sr., Coral Springs, Fla.) added nine points and seven rebounds. Allen and Bishko both added eight points each.

Kane led the Spartans with 15 points while Sheena Walton amassed 14 points and 11 boards and six blocks. Mackey and Erica Woodard added 14 points and 11 rebounds, respectively.

While rebounds were close at 37-35 in favor of Tampa, the most telling stat was Tampa's 18-21 effort from the free throw line in stark contrast to NSU 3-3 performance. The Sharks were called for 17 fouls while the Spartans were whistled five times.

NSU will return to action on Wednesday, January 9 as they will host the Flagler College Saints at 5:30pm at the University Center Arena.