FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (Jan. 9, 2010) - Nova Southeastern University women's basketball team cruised past Eckerd on Saturday afternoon, posting a 64-43 victory over the Tritons at The Arena at the Don Taft University Center. The Sharks improve to 9-6 overall and 2-2 in the Sunshine State Conference. Eckerd falls to 5-6 on the season and 0-3 in the conference.

For NSU, it is the first time this season in which it has won by 20-or-more points. Additionally, the Triton's 43 points is the fewest an NSU opponent has score this season.

Eckerd led throughout the beginning part of the first half. The Tritons were up by as many as four on three different occasions, including 18-14 at 9:44. NSU eventually was able to even the game up at 18-all, but Eckerd took a two-point lead at 7:11 on a Jordan Stacey layup. However, that would be the final time the Tritons would lead the game.

A layup by Rheisa Burke (Fr., Port Charlotte, Fla.) at 6:46 evened the game at 20-20 and began a 7-0 run for the Sharks. During the run, LaShawnna Edwards' layup at 5:25 provided NSU with its first lead of the game and Tara Haddock (Sr., Citrus Springs, Fla.) hit a three-pointer to make it a 25-20 game with 5:01 left in the first half.

After Eckerd pulled to within one, NSU built another five-point cushion and entered halftime with a 30-25 advantage.

The Sharks started the second half strong both offensively and defensively. NSU opened the half with a 12-0 run and did not allow a Triton basket until 11:56 in the half. NSU got out to three 17-point leads in the first part of the second half, including an Edwards jumper at 10:16 that made it 46-29.

NSU continued to expand its lead for the remainder of the game. The Sharks ultimately led by 21 as Lauren Marshall (Jr., Gladstone, Mich.) calmly made a pair of foul shots with 1:07 remaining to put NSU up 62-41. Eckerd responded by making two free throws of its at 42 seconds. However, a layup by Burke with 21 seconds left allowed NSU to close out the game with a 21-point advantage.

NSU outshot and outrebounded the Tritons. The Sharks shot 40.4 percent (21-for-52) and grabbed 39 rebounds. Eckerd was 31.3 percent (15-for-48) and pulled down 31 boards.

Edwards and Stevie Kamp (So., Mesa, Ariz.) each tallied a game-high 12 points. Edwards also pulled down a game-high six rebounds.

Ashley Lutz led Eckerd with 12 points, while Kati Rausberg had six rebounds.

NSU returns to action on Wednesday at Rollins. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 p.m., at Warden Arena