BOX SCORE

DENVER, Colo. – The Nova Southeastern University women’s basketball team (4-1) dropped its first loss of the season to the Metro State College Roadrunners (3-0), 58-51, Friday night in the Event Center in Denver, Colo.

In the Metro State Thanksgiving Classic, the Sharks played the host Metro State for its opening game in the tournament.

The biggest stat difference that changed the outcome of the game was that Metro State out rebounded the Sharks, 54-27 and got 17 second chance points to NSU’s five.

Senior center Stephanie Sarosi (Mims, Fla.) was the lone Shark player who posted up double-digit points with 13. Nine different NSU players finished the game with three points or more.

Nova Southeastern only shot 21 (5-24) percent from the field in the first half compared to Metro State’s 33 (10-32) percent. The Sharks ended the game with a 34 percent from the field, their lowest of the season.

In the first half, the Sharks struggled at the boards as Metro State out rebounded NSU, 29-12. Of the 13 offensive rebounds for the Roadrunners, Metro State got 10 points off second chance points.

The Sharks put their first two points on the scoreboard coming from free throws from Quinessa Johnson(Jr., West Chester, Ohio) and Jada Buckner (Jr., Loudon, Tenn.).

Sabrina Stambouli (So., Quebec, Canada) came off the bench and hit a three for NSU’s first field goal of the game with 12 minutes remaining in the half.

Sarosi utilized her size down low, scoring the Sharks next six points down in the paint to cut the Roadrunners lead 16-10. Sarosi headed into the locker room as the Sharks leading scorer with seven points and five block shots.

In the second half, the Sharks matched the Roadrunner point total with 35 but it was not enough in the end for the win.

Down by 10 at 38-28 with 12:18 left in the game, Sarosi help cut the lead to six with two back-to-back baskets.

Despite redshirt freshman Kristina Cabrera (Miami, Fla.) scoring seven points in the last 30 seconds, the Sharks could not give Metro State its first loss and was held to its lowest point total of the season..

Nova Southeastern will play Western State tomorrow at 1 p.m. in its last game in the Metro State Thanksgiving Classic.