TAMPA, Fla. (Jan. 2, 2010) - Nova Southeastern University women's basketball dropped a 61-49 Sunshine State Conference game to No. 12 Tampa on Saturday afternoon at the Bob Martinez Sports Center. NSU falls to 7-6 overall and 0-2 in the SSC, while Tampa improves to 12-1 overall and 1-0 in the SSC.

NSU got out to a slow start as Tampa jumped out to a 12-2 lead at 14:48. However, the Sharks started to fight back, using a 17-8 run to pull to within one. A three-pointer by Abbie Tepe (Jr., Cincinnati, Ohio) at 14:04 sparked the run. Meanwhile, Tara Haddock (Sr., Citrus Springs, Fla.) hit a trey to cap off the run at 7:47 to make it a 20-19 game in favor of Tampa.

The Spartans went on to make three shots from beyond the arc  including getting two from Caitlyn Mitryk  and two foul shots in the last seven-and-a-half minutes en route to taking a 31-25 lead heading into halftime.

In the second half, cold shooting plagued the Sharks. Tampa opened the half with a 13-4 run, going up by 15 at 11:09 on a Gianna Messina layup. The Spartans eventually led by as many as 17 as they took a 50-33 advantage with 5:47 left.

NSU trimmed the deficit down to nine, using a 10-2 run to make it 52-43 in favor of Tampa. Lauren Marshall (Jr., Gladstone, Mich.) started the run with back-to-back three-pointers. Meanwhile, Stevie Kamp (So., Mesa, Ariz.) and Stephanie Sarosi (Sr., Mims, Fla.) had a jumper and a layup, respectively, during the run.

After a Messina layup put the Spartans up by 11, Marshall hit a jumper at 2:27 to make it a nine-point game once again. However, that would be as close as the Sharks could get as Tampa outscored NSU 7-4 in the last two minutes.

The Sharks shot 23.8 percent and were 17-for-59 from the floor. Tampa was 21-for-53 and shot 39.6 percent. NSU held the edge on rebounds, pulling down 39 as Tampa had 38.

Sarosi led the Sharks with 14 points, seven rebounds, and five blocks. Marshall chipped in with 11 points  all in the second half.

Tiara Cook scored a game-high 17 points, while Mitryk had a 16-point, 14-rebound double-double. Messina added 13 points for the Spartans.

NSU's next game is at Lynn on Wednesday. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. at the de Hoernle Center.