BOX SCORE

BOCA RATON, Fla. – The Nova Southeastern University women’s basketball team (10-5, 3-3 SSC) worked all the way back to cut Lynn’s (8-8, 2-4 SSC) lead to three in the closing minute but was unable to complete the full comeback as the Sharks dropped a heartbreaker to the Fighting Knights, 64-56, Wednesday night in the de Hornle Sports and Cultural Center.

The Sharks continue to struggle on the road and especially in the first half of action, as Nova Southeastern has only won one road game. NSU was 8-for-32 in the first half, heading into the locker room down 37-25. Just as in the Eckerd game, the Sharks showed a valiant effort to make a comeback in second half of play as they closed the gap to one basket with: 51 seconds left in the game.

NSU shot 25.4 percent (17-for-67) in the game, compared to Lynn’s 38.1 percent (24-for-63). Lynn outscored the Sharks 36-12 in the paint.

Three Sharks finished in double-figures as junior Jada Buckner (Loudon, Tenn.) was the team leader with 13 points. Seniors Abbie Tepe (Cincinnati, Ohio) and Stephanie Sarosi (Mims, Fla.) added 12 and 11, respectively.

Freshman Jasmine Wilkins (Miami, Fla.) tallied five blocks, setting a new career high for the rookie.

Lynn also had three players with double-digit points as Chelsea Patterson was the game leader with 17 points. Marquis Lee and Tashina Bailey combined with 25 with 15 and 10, respectively.

With one minute remaining in the half, the Knights extended their lead by 15, the biggest of the game.

To open the second half, the Sharks got a trey from Tepe for the only basket from either team in the first five minutes.

After Sarosi hit both free throws at the 14:18 mark, NSU cut Lynn’s lead to single digits to nine at 41-32.

With 5:28 left and once again behind by 10, NSU scored the next seven points to trim Lynn’s lead 54-51.

Senior Priscilla Perez (Miami, Fla.) swished a three as the clocked ticked down to :51 seconds but that was the closest the Sharks got to the Knights.

After a tough road stretch, NSU will return home to face No. 24 Tampa on Saturday, Jan. 22 at 2 p.m. in the NSU Arena at the Don Taft University Center.