FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. (Nov. 15, 2008) - The Nova Southeastern University's women's basketball team fell 60-53 to St. Augustine's College in the first game of the NSU Marriott Tip-Off Classic at the University Center on Saturday night in what was the season-opener for both teams.

NSU found itself trailing early in the first half as St. Augustine's took an eight-point 12-4 lead off a 3-pointer from Lekiesha White. The Sharks cut the deficit down to five with a three-point play from Stephanie Sarosi (Jr., Mims, Fla.) at the 14:14 mark. Sarosi made a jumper, while drawing a foul. She then converted on her free-throw shot to make it a 14-9.

The Falcons eventually took another eight-point lead. An Allison Sikes jumper at 11:21 put Saint Augustine's up 18-10. However, NSU scored the next four points, while holding Saint Augustine's scoreless for just over three minutes. During the Sharks' run, Jennifer Ceant (Fr. Weston, Fla.) made a free-throw and a lay-up and Abbie Tepe (So., Cincinnati, Ohio) also made a free throw as Saint Augustine's held an 18-14 advantaged with 8:13 left in the half.

St. Augustine's broke its scoreless drought at the 7:54 mark and proceed to go on a 13-3 run in order to take a 31-17 lead with 2:21 remaining.

Back-to-back lay-ups by Sarosi and Ceant made it 31-21 in favor of the Falcons, but Allison Sikes hit a jumper with 43 seconds left in the half as St. Augustine's carried a 33-21 advantage into halftime.

NSU and St. Augustine's exchanged points to start the second half. However, the Sharks took advantage of a 12-2 run in order to cut the Falcons lead down to four. Sarosi sparked the run with a jumper at 16:25 and then made it a 41-37 game with a pair of free throws at 13:01.

The Falcons were able to double their lead due to four points by Brittany Parker from the charity stripe and held a 45-37 lead with 11:17 remaining. However, the Sharks kept fighting back. With St. Augustine's up 49-43, LaSawnna Edwards (Jr., Miami, Fla.) hit a jumper at the 6:09 mark to pull NSU to within four. On the next play, Edwards stole the ball away from the Falcons' offense and made a layup to make it a 49-47 game with 5:50 left.

However, that would be as close as the Sharks could get as a 7-2 by St. Augustine's allowed the Falcons to hold a seven-point 56-49 lead with 2:32 remaining. NSU was able to cut the Falcons' advantage down to three, but St. Augustine's scored several points in the final 25 seconds in order to hang on for the win.

NSU shot 33.3 percent (19-for-57) and made 50 rebounds. St. Augustine's was 37.5 percent (24-for-64) from the floor and had 38 rebounds.

Sarosi led the Sharks with a 21-point, 13-rebound double-double. She also had four blocks. Tepe totaled nine assists and eight points. Edwards recorded four steals and also had eight points.

Keyona Bryant had a team-high 14 points, while White, Sikes and Andrew Hauser each had 10. White, Sikes and Parker recorded a team-high seven rebounds.

NSU returns to action on Sunday when the Sharks play their final game of the NSU Marriott Tip-Off Classic against Clayton State. Game time is set for 2 p.m. from the University Center.