FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (Dec. 13, 2008) - Nova Southeastern University's women's basketball team was unable to hold off Eckerd's comeback as the Sharks fell 65-62 at the University Center on Saturday afternoon in what was the Sunshine State Conference opener for both teams.
The Tritons (5-3, 1-0 SSC) opened the game with a 5-0 run and lead by as many as five on four different occasions during the first part of the first half. With Eckerd up 14-12, Tara Haddock (Jr., Citrus Springs, Fla.) drained a three-pointer at 8:56 to bring the Sharks (0-6, 0-1 SSC) to within two. A layup by Stephanie Sarosi (Jr., Mims, Fla.) about two minutes later evened the game at 14-14.
Eckerd regained a two-point lead at 6:30 with a layup by Olivia Nagle, but back-to-back LaShawnna Edwards (Jr., Miami, Fla.) allowed NSU to hold an 18-16 advantage with 5:41 left in the half. The lead flip-flopped between NSU and the Tritons until a made free throw by Eckerd's Ashley Lutz deadlocked the game at 22-all with 3:03 remaining.
However, the Sharks went on the close out the opening half with an 11-2 run. With about 2:40 to go, Edwards found a wide-open Sarosi, whose layup sparked the run that eventually allowed NSU to carry a 33-24 lead into halftime.
In the second half, NSU pushed its margin to 10 at the 18:15 mark with a Sarsoi jumper giving the Sharks a 35-25 lead. Eckerd eventually cut the Sharks' advantage down to five on two occasions, including a layup by Jennifer Kinney at 15:33 that made it a 39-34 game.
The Sharks offense started to get hot with 15:18 to go as a Haddock trey started a 12-0 run that saw NSU take a 51-34 lead. However, Eckerd answered with its own 12-1 run to make it 52-46 in favor of NSU with 7:34 remaining. The Sharks fought to keep their lead intact, using a 7-1 run to hold a 59-47 advantage with 6:02 left.
Over the next two minutes, the Tritons chipped away at NSU's lead and pulled to within four off a three-point play by Laticia Rolle at 4:21. A three-pointer by Abbie Tepe (So., Cincinnati, Ohio) put NSU up 62-55 with 4:02 to go, but that proved to be the final basket for the Sharks as the Eckerd ended the game with 10-0 run in order to get the win.
NSU shot 38.5 percent (25-for-65) for the game, while Eckerd was 49.1 percent (26-for-53). The Tritons held a 38-37 rebounding edge, but the Sharks posted 12 steals.
Sarosi led the Sharks with 22 points, while Haddock chipped in with 11 points. Edwards grabbed a game-high eight rebounds. Haddock, Tepe and Erin Zampell (Fr., Naples, Fla.) each had three steals.
Nagle posted a game-high 25 points and a team-high six rebounds for Eckerd.
NSU returns to action this week at the Cruzin' Classic. The Sharks will play two games in the tournament with their first one being against Dominican College on Wednesday, Dec. 17 at the University Center. Game time is set for 6 p.m.
