ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (Feb. 6 2010) - Trailing by one, Abbie Tepe (Jr., Cincinnati, Ohio) drilled a game-winning three-point shot with five seconds left to lift Nova Southeastern University women's basketball over Eckerd 54-53 on Saturday afternoon. The win snaps a six-game losing skid for the Sharks, who improve to 10-12 overall and 3-8 in the Sunshine State Conference. Eckerd falls to 7-12 on the season and 1-9 in the conference.
"It feels great to get an important, SSC road win," said Marilyn Rule. "LaShawnna Edwards really stepped up today and gave us some much needed scoring. Erin Zampell also made some big play on both ends of the court. And then there is Abbie's big shot to win the game. Abbie is a great competitor and found a way to help us win."
"Coming out of the timeout, we set up a play to attack the basket or take the three," said Tepe. "I never saw the shot go in because I got knocked to the ground. My teammates were able to get the defensive stop we needed with four seconds to go. It feels great to win."
NSU's first lead of the game did not come until the second half. In the first half, the Sharks had to contend with an Eckerd team that was 52.2 percent from the field and made 12-of-23 shots. The Tritons' took a pair of 11-point advantages during the half, including at 8:57 with a Krystal Charles three-pointer that made it 26-15. The Sharks gradually chipped away at the Tritons' lead, using a 12-3 run to make it a two-point game. Lindsey Newpher (Sr., Depew, Okla.) swished a three-pointer at 1:09 as the teams entered halftime with Eckerd up 29-27.
Most of the Sharks' scoring during the second half came from the inside players. LaShawnna Edwards (Sr., Miami, Fla.), Erin Zampell (So., Naples, Fla.) and Rheisa Burke (Fr., Port Charlotte, Fla.) accounted for 21 of the Sharks' 27 second-half points.
NSU came back from an early nine-point deficit largely due to Edwards. She had nine of NSU's first 14 points of the half, including a layup at 12:17 that provided NSU with a 41-40 edge and the Sharks' first lead of the game.
Both teams battled for control for the remainder of the game as the largest lead by either team was four points by Eckerd. Jordan Stacey hit a three-pointer at 6:50 to put the Tritons up 48-44.
NSU regained a one-point advantage as both of Tepe's foul shots fell through the basket and put the Sharks up 51-50 with 1:03 left. However, the lead was short-lived as Eckerd's Ashley Lutz sank both of her free throws with 50 seconds to go. A Stephanie Grace foul shot at 17 seconds gave the Tritons a slim two-point cushion. But after a quick Shark timeout, NSU made their final possession count with Tepe hitting a key three.
NSU shot 28.6 percent from the floor and was 18-for-63, while the Tritons were 20-for-48 and shot 41.7 percent. The Sharks also outrebounded Eckerd 48-48.
Edwards led the Sharks with a career-high 17 points. Zampell and Tepe chipped in with 12 and 11 points, respectively. All three players also each had a team-high eight rebounds.
Lutz, who scored her 1000th-career point during the game, scored a game-high 20 points. Taylor Young pulled down a game-high nine rebounds.
NSU is back in action on Wednesday when the Sharks host Lynn. Tip off is set for 5:30 p.m., from NSU Arena at the Don Taft University Center. Live audio of the game will also be available on NSU's website
