WINTER PARK, Fla. (Nov. 27, 2009) - Nova Southeastern University women's basketball team won its fourth-straight game as the Sharks defeated Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras 69-58 on Friday at Warden Arena at the Rollins Thanksgiving Classic. NSU improves to 4-1 overall, while Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras falls to 0-3.

The Sharks got out to a six-point, 8-2 lead in the first five minutes. However, Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras used a 9-2 run to go up 11-10 at 12:52. NSU ultimately regained the lead as a layup from LaShawnna Edwards (Sr., Miami, Fla.) made it a 14-11 game with 12:07 left.

Puerto Rico Rio Piedras cut the Sharks' lead down to one as an Amanda Nunez layup at 10:14 made it 16-15 in favor of NSU. The Sharks started to distance themselves from the Jerezanas, using a 9-2 run sparked by a layup and a made foul shot by Tara Haddock (Sr., Citrus Springs, Fla.) to go up 25-17 with 8:24 to go. Puerto Rico Rio Piedras gradually chipped away at the Sharks' lead. The Jerezanas ultimately scored the final five points of the half as NSU held a 29-28 edge heading into halftime.

NSU got out to a hot start in the second half. After Puerto Rico Rio Piedras tied the game at 29-29, NSU exploded with an 18-4 run to go up 47-33 with 15:36 remaining. Priscilla Perez (Jr., Miami, Fla.) capped off the run with her first three-pointer of the game.

The Jerezanas came to within seven points as Marangely Cruz hit both of her foul shots at 10:41 to make it 49-42 in favor of NSU. However, the Sharks ultimately pulled even further away from Puerto Rico Rio Piedras. Haddock drained a shot from long range at 6:50 that gave NSU a 15-point, 61-46 lead. The closest Puerto Rico Rio Piedras got for the remainder of the game was nine points as Shakira Rodriguez made a foul shot with 1:02 to go to make it 67-58.

NSU was 24-for-56 from the floor and shot 42.9 percent. Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras made 20-of-57 shots and 35.1 percent from the floor. The Sharks tallied 43 rebounds, while the Jerezanas grabbed 30 boards.

Haddock scored a team-high 13 points, which was also a career-high. Edwards added 10 points, while Perez tallied a career-high nine points. Jada Buckner (So., Loudon, Tenn.) and Stevie Kamp (So., Mesa, Ariz.) led the Sharks with six rebounds each.

Sonia Roman recorded a game-high 17 points. Cruz and Rodriguez totaled 16 and 15 points, respectively. Arachristie Otero grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds.

NSU concludes play at the Rollins Thanksgiving Classic on Saturday when the Sharks face No. 13 Clayton State. Tip-off is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. from Warden Arena.