BOX SCORE

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Playing in her 100th game, senior Abbie Tepe opened the game with her 100th three of her career as the Nova Southeastern University women’s basketball team (9-3, 2-1 SSC) held off the Saint Leo Lions (7-7, 0-4 SSC), 72-71, on Saturday afternoon in the NSU Arena at the Don Taft University Center.

In Stephanie Sarosi (Mims, Fla.) best offensive performance of the year with 25 points, the Sharks also got one of her best on the defensive end as well as she blocked seven Lion shots, six coming in the first half.

Sarosi also tallied 12 rebounds for her third straight double-double.

Junior transfer Quinessa Johnson (West Chester, Ohio) scored a season best 19 points as she hit 50 percent from three point range.

Brittany Carannante paced the Lions as she dropped 23 on the Sharks, including a perfect 7-for-7 from the trey line.

The Sharks shot 41.8 (23-for-55) percent from the field while the Lions only hit 31.8 (28-for-88).

After the early 3-0 lead on the Sharks first possession by Tepe (Cincinnati, Ohio), Johnson drained one from behind the arc to start the game in dominant fashion and take a 6-0 lead.

At the 12:59 mark, Sabrina Stambouli (So., Quebec, Canada) laid in a ball on the fast break to extend NSU’s lead by 11, 15-4.

Saint Leo’s Chelsea Williams attempted two shots underneath the basket but Sarosi was right there to stuff them both back in her face for two of her blocks as Saint Leo was held to 26.2 percent shooting the first half.

The Lions went on a 16-0 run and took the lead by five with just over eight minutes left until intermission.

The Sharks would creep back and eventually even the score at 23 at the 5:08. Heading into the locker room, the Sharks would take a four point lead, 33-29.

NSU fired on all cylinders coming out of the break as Sarosi and Johnson hit back-to-back shots to put them up by nine.

Senior guard Priscilla Perez (Miami, Fla.) gave the Sharks its biggest lead of the game as she hit the open three pointer as the home team took the 48-36 advantage.

The Lions would make the game tight at the end as Carannante hit a three with four seconds left but it was not enough as the Sharks held Saint Leo to a loss and continue to hold them winless in the SSC on the season.

NSU will take on cross-town rival Barry University in a midweek game on Wednesday, Jan. 12th at 5 p.m. at the NSU Arena.