FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (Dec. 19, 2008) - Nova Southeastern University's women's basketball team looked as if it was going to pull off the upset of No. 2 Washburn. However, Hope Gregory made a jumper just as time expired as the Lady Blues defeated the Sharks 64-62 in the final game of the Cruzin' Classic on Friday evening at the University Center.

The game proved to be a battle early on as both NSU and Washburn fought to build a substantial lead. With the Sharks ahead by one, a layup by Abbie Tepe (So., Cincinnati, Ohio) sparked a six-point run that gave NSU a 13-6 advantage at 11:39 in the first half.

Washburn eventually pulled to within two with a Janice Bright layup that made it a 15-13 game in favor of NSU with 8:13 to go. Two minutes later, the Sharks regained their seven-point lead behind a pair of jumpers from LaShawnna Edwards (Jr., Miami, Fla.) and a Tepe free throw. However, the Lady Blues responded with a 7-3 run that cut NSU's lead down to one and made it 23-22 with 2:53 left in the half.

The Sharks eventually took a four-point, 26-22 advantage with an Eliza Allen (Sr., Hegenheim, France) layup, but Washburn trimmed NSU's lead in half a Bright made a pair of shots from the charity stripe with 43 seconds to go. The Lady Blues took their first lead of the game as Bright hit a three-pointer right at the end of the half to put Washburn up 27-26.

NSU opened the second half with a 9-2 run that was fueled by back-to-back jumpers from Stephanie Sarosi (Jr., Mims, Fla.), a trey by Erin Zampell (Fr., Naples, Fla.) and Tepe layup. Washburn answered with a 6-0 run that allowed the Lady Blues to go up 36-35 at the 14:55 mark. However, another Shark 9-2 run gave them a six-point advantage as an Allen three-pointer at 13:02 made it a 44-38 game.

Washburn fought back and eventually took a 53-51 lead at 8:47 with Jessica Mainz making a layup and drawing the foul. Mainz made her free throw in order to allow the Lady Blues to take the two-point lead.

NSU knotted the game up at 53-all just 17 seconds later with a Sarosi jumper, which also sparked an 8-0 run that put the Sharks up 60-53 with 4:35 remaining.

After being held scoreless for over four minutes, the Lady Blues used a 7-0 run, which started with a Bright three-pointer at the 4:10 mark, to even the game at 60-60.

An Abbie Tepe jumper in the paint allowed NSU to take a crucial 62-60 advantage with 1:10 left in the game. However, Bright drew a foul with 51 seconds and sank both of her free throws in order to even the game at 62-all.

After a costly NSU turnover, Washburn had the ball for the final 30 seconds of the game. The game looked as if it was about to go into overtime as Bright missed a jumper, but Stanecia Graham grabbed the rebound and passed the ball to Gregory for the game-winning shot.

NSU was 43.1 percent (22-for-51) from the floor for the game with most of its shots being made in the second half (15-for-26, 57.7 percent shooting). Washburn shot 38.7 percent (24for-62). Washburn also held a 40-34 advantage in rebounds, but the Sharks had more steals (6-5) and blocks (7-0).

Four Sharks reached double-figures in scoring. Sarosi had a team-high 15 points. Allen, who was 4-7 from beyond the arc, totaled 14 points and added a game-high three steals. Tepe and Zampell each had 12. Tepe also totaled a game-high nine rebounds. Meanwhile, Zampell had four of NSU's seven blocks.

Bright led the Lady Blues with 18 points, while Graham pulled down nine boards.

After an 11-day break, NSU returns to the hardwood for the two-day Barry Holiday Classic in Miami Shores, Fla. The Sharks open the tournament against Shaw Tuesday, Dec. 30 at Barry's Health & Sports Center. Game time is set for 6 p.m.