FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (Nov. 24, 2009) - Nova Southeastern University's women's basketball team used another key second-half performance on Tuesday as the Sharks topped Valdosta State 61-57 at The Arena at the Don Taft University Center. It was NSU's (3-1) first win over the Blazers (2-2) since Dec. 30, 2003 when the then-Knights defeated Valdosta State 57-52.

NSU and Valdosta State remained close to each other throughout the entire game. Both teams' largest lead was six points. Valdosta State held a six-point advantage at 5:16 in the first half as Brittany Daniels had a layup. Meanwhile, the Sharks gained a six-point cushion with six seconds remaining in the game as a pair of Erin Zampell (So., Naples, Fla.) free throws made it 60-54.

In the first half, NSU used a 7-0 run to take a 12-7 lead. Tara Haddock (Sr., Citrus Springs) began the run with a made free throw, while a layup by Stevie Kamp (So., Mesa Ariz.) put the Sharks up by five with 12:18 to go.

Valdosta State chipped away at the Sharks' lead. With the game tied a 19-all, the Blazers scored six-straight points to take their six-point, 25-19 advantage at 5:16. NSU fought back and tied the game twice before Valdosta State scored the last three points of the half to take a 31-28 lead into halftime.

In the second half, layups from Sczeny Hartry and Leschelle Matthews allowed Valdosta State to go up 37-32 with 16:19 to go. However, the Sharks erased the five-point deficit, using a pair of Kamp foul shots to tie the game at 40-40 at 12:07.

The game remained close over the next 10 minutes with the teams only building a one- or a two-point cushion. With Valdosta State up 54-52, a jumper from Jada Buckner (So., Loudon, Tenn.) not just tied the game for the 12th time, but also sparked a critical 8-0 run for the Sharks. Kamp contributed to the run with a layup. Meanwhile, Zampell sank four shots from the charity stripe, helping NSU to its only six-point lead of the game.

Valdosta State pulled to within three on a Leschelle Matthews three-pointer with two seconds to go. However, after a Blazer foul, Buckner sank one of her foul shots to seal the win.

NSU was 19-for-46 from the floor, shooting 41.3 percent. Valdosta State shot 35.1 percent and was 20-for-57. The Blazers outrebounded the Sharks 37-35.

Kamp led the Sharks with 10 points. LaShawnna Edwards (Sr., Miami, Fla.), Meloney Fosburgh (So., Phoenix, Ariz.) and Abbie Tepe (Jr., Cincinnati, Ohio) all tallied nine points. Edwards, Fosburgh and Kamp also all had five rebounds, while the Sharks made seven team rebounds. Meanwhile, Tepe dished out a season-high seven assists.

Matthews scored a game-high 14 points and Michelle Thompson chipped in with 11 for Valdosta State. Tamika Booker and Courtney Mitchell each grabbed a game-high eight rebounds.

NSU returns to action at this weekend's Rollins Thanksgiving Tournament in Winter Park, Fla. The Sharks begin the tournament against Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras on Friday at 4 p.m.