FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (Nov. 23, 2008) - The Nova Southeastern University women's basketball team was unable to hold off Valdosta State as the Sharks fell 73-70 in overtime on Sunday afternoon at the University Center Arena. NSU now drops to 0-3 on the season, while the Blazers improve to 4-0.
NSU got off to a hot start, opening the game with a 14-4 run. LaShawnna Edwards (Jr., Miami, Fla.) began the run with two jumps and a layup. Stephanie Sarosi (Jr., Mims, Fla.) hit a jumper at 12:33 to put the Sharks up 11-4. Priscilla Perez knocked back a 3-pointer just 30 seconds later to increase the Sharks' lead to seven. Sarosi closed out the run with a jumper and also drew the foul. Her free throw was good as NSU was up by 10 points with 11:27 left in the half.
The Sharks eventually pushed their lead to 11 before the Blazers scored six-straight to make it 18-13 in favor of NSU at the 7:01 mark. NSU gained an eight-point cushion, but Valdosta State cut the Sharks' lead down to five with a 3-pointer by Michelle Thompson. However, the Sharks went on to outscore Valdosta State 11-6 in the final 5:18 of the half as NSU held a 32-22 advantage going into halftime.
The teams traded points to open the second half. A layup by Edwards gave NSU the 12-point 38-26 advantage at 17:24, but the Blazers made it a seven-point game with a layup and free throw from Thompson and a layup by Tamika Booker.
The Sharks used a 7-2 run to regain another 12-point lead as Lindsey Newpher's (Jr., Depew, Okla.) shot from behind the arc put NSU up 45-33 at 12:20. However, after the Valdosta State and NSU traded jumpers, the Blazers went on a 14-1 run that resulted in them taking the lead. Leschelle Matthews hit a 3-pointer at 5:53 that gave the Blazers a 49-48 edge.
After NSU regained the lead on a Sarosi jumper, a 3-pointer from Shakeda Richie put Valdosta State up 52-50 with 4:07 remaining in regulation. NSU answered with an Abbie Tepe (So., Cincinnati, Ohio) 3-pointer and an Edwards jumper as the Sharks held a 55-52 edge at the 3:02 mark.
Valdosta State eventually deadlocked the game at 58-all with 1:16 remaining as Jenia Babina hit a jumper. Just 13 seconds later, Tepe sank a free throw as NSU took a one-point lead. Booker's jumper with 51 seconds to go allowed Valdosta State to go up 60-59. A jumper by Tepe returned to the lead to the Sharks, but Richie made one of her free throws with 21 seconds to go that evened the game at 61-all, which proved to be the score at the end of regulation.
In overtime, NSU took a three-point, 66-63 advantage as Newpher calmly sank a pair of free throws at the 3:18 mark. However, Thompson hit a long-range shot at 2:28 that tied the game 66-66, while Brittany Hudson's layup put the Blazers up 68-66. The Sharks made three free throws, including the game-tying and go-ahead by Sarosi, in order to hold a 69-68 lead with 1:28 left. However, a Richie jumper gave the Blazers the lead for the final time as Valdosta State outscored NSU 5-2 in the final 1:13.
NSU was 42.9 percent (24-of-56) from the floor, while the Blazers were 42.2 percent (27-of-64). NSU pulled down 39 rebounds. Valdosta State grabbed 41 rebounds.
Both Sarosi and Edwards recorded double-doubles, while Tepe and Newpher reached double-digits in points. Sarosi had 17 points and 10 rebounds and was 5-for-5 from the charity stripe. Edwards scored 14 points and grabbed 16 boards and also had all four of NSU's steals. Tepe totaled 12 points and had a game-high six assists. Newpher chipped in with 11 points.
Booker recorded a game-high 18 points and led the Blazers with 14 rebounds and six steals.
With nearly two weeks in between games, NSU returns to action at the two-day Valdosta State Days INNvitational. The Sharks open the tournament against West Georgia on Dec. 5 at 2 p.m.
