COLUMBIA, S.C. (Dec. 12, 2009) - Nova Southeastern University's women's basketball team used hot shooting from long range en route to defeating Benedict 78-62 on Saturday night at the HCR Arena. The Sharks' 16-point win is its largest margin of victory so far of the 2009 season.

NSU (5-3) got out to a hot start, opening the game with a 12-3 run. During that run, NSU hit three-straight three-pointers with Abbie Tepe (Jr., Cincinnati, Ohio), Jada Buckner (So., Loudon, Tenn.) and Lindsey Newpher (Sr., Depew, Okla.) all hitting one shot beyond the arc.

NSU maintained a nine-point advantage for much of the half before taking a 10-point 23-13 lead on an Erin Zampell (So. Naples, Fla.) three-pointer at 10:48. However, the Tigers began to gradually chip away at the Sharks' lead. A layup by Alexus Jones pulled Benedict to within four as NSU held a 25-21 edge at 5:19.

A layup by Meloney Fosburgh (So., Phoenix, Ariz.) sparked a 7-0 run, resulting in NSU taking a 32-21 lead with 2:43 left in the first half. Benedict took advantage of an 8-2 run to make it a five-point 34-29 game in favor of NSU with 47 seconds left. However, the Sharks concluded the first half with a seven-point cushion as the teams entered halftime 37-30.

In the second half, NSU took an early 11-point lead with a Newpher layup at 15:45 that made it 47-36. The Sharks continued to increase its advantage throughout the second half. NSU got up to a 20-point lead on a Tara Haddock (Sr., Citrus Springs, Fla.) three-pointer at 6:08. However, NSU's largest lead of the game came as a jumper by Lauren Marshall (Jr., Gladstone, Mich.) allowed the Sharks to take a 24-point 73-49 lead.

Benedict would get as close as 14 points as a Jones three-pointer made it 76-62, but Rheisa Burke (Fr. Port Charlotte, Fla.) hit a pair of free throws for the game's final two points.

NSU shot 45.0 percent for the game, going 27-for-60 from the floor. The Sharks were 52.9 percent from three-point range, going 9-for-17. Benedict shot 30.0 percent from the floor and was 21-for-70. The Tigers went 25.0 percent from three-point range, making 7-of-28 shots. NSU outrebounded Benedict 43-30.

Haddock led the game with a career-high 15 points. Stevie Kamp (So., Mesa, Ariz.) had 13 points, while Tepe recorded 12 points. Newpher tied her career-high of 11 points for the third time. Kamp was one of two players to tally a game-high 13 rebounds. Meanwhile, Tepe handed out four assists and swiped four balls.

Charvez Holmes scored a team-high 14 points. Utivia Barnes had a 13-point, 13-rebound double-double. Jones recorded 12 points, while Tamara Rogers had 11 points.

NSU returns to action on Thursday when the Sharks take on Central Missouri in the Cruzin' Classic at the Don Taft University Center. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m.