FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – After dropping two straight road games, the Nova Southeastern University women’s basketball team (10-5, 3-3 SSC) will return to the confines of its home court as they host the No. 24 Tampa Spartans (13-3, 5-1 SSC) on Saturday, Jan. 22 at 2 p.m. in the NSU Arena at the Don Taft University Center.
The Sharks have done most of their damage at home this season, collecting a 7-1 record overall and a perfect 3-0 in the SSC.
With the 10-5 record, the Sharks have tied the 2007-08 team for the best start in NSU history.
The Sharks are averaging 71.0 points per game and shooting 38.5 percent from the field this season but is more impressive at home averaging 73.2 ppg, 75.6 in home SSC games, and shooting 39.5 percent.
In the last national ranking, the Sharks sit fifth as a team for blocks per game with 5.8. They tallied six in the 64-56 loss to Lynn, and freshman Jasmine Wilkins (Miami, Fla.) set a new career high of five in her rookie campaign.
Senior Stephanie Sarosi (Mims, Fla.) continues to anchor the team this season as the team leader with 16.9 ppg and 8.8 rebounds per game.
Senior Abbie Tepe (Cincinnati, Ohio) added 12 points and eight rebounds against the Fighting Knights and in return jumped a spot on the NSU career list in points to fourth with 898 and in rebounds to fifth with 440.
About Tampa
The Tampa Spartans received a spot in the top-25 as No. 24 in Week 9 of the USA Today/ESPN Poll for the first time since the first poll of the season.
UT suffered its first conference loss on Wednesday, Jan. 19 to Florida Southern 77-72, who now owns the top spot in the SSC standings.
Tampa one of the strongest team in the league. As the SSC’s leader in field goal percentage at 45.9, the Spartans also hit 36 percent from behind the arc.
Twins Gianna and Catriana Messina are a powerful duo as Gianna averages 15.6 ppg and Catriana dishes out 5.1 assists per game.
Taja Green is not only the teams point leader, averaging 17.1 ppg, but has also taken over the top SSC spot in scoring.
The Series vs. Tampa
The Sharks have only taken three from Tampa in 21 previous meetings. NSU defeated the Spartans in the 2007-08 conference tournament, 53-47, in its last win over UT. The last time Nova Southeastern gave Tampa a loss in the regular season was back in the 2004-05 season.
Promotions
Fans and Students will have the opportunity, as in each and every home basketball game, to win $5 in Moe’s bucks just by answering a trivia question about Sharks basketball. Students just have to be in a lucky seat in section 105 and they will automatically earn $5 towards Moe’s.
At halftime of the game, fans, students and children are given a chance to win a gift card for a free frosty from Wendy’s just by hitting a free throw.
On the back of each game ticket is a coupon for 25% off at Geronimos Bar and Grill, which is located at the University Park Place right on campus.
The first 50 fans who walk in the door for the women’s game will go home with a Shark Foam.
