NSU TIP-OFF CLASSIC TOURNAMENT PAGE

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FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Nova Southeastern women’s basketball team will kick off the 2011-12 season Friday at 5:30 p.m. when it takes on Valdosta State in its first game of the NSU Tip-Off Classic. The Sharks will then take on Columbus State Saturday at 8 p.m. Both games will be held in the NSU Arena at the Don Taft Center.
 
The season begins a new page in NSU women’s basketball history as LeAnn Freeland begins her tenure as the head coach of Sharks basketball. Freeland comes to NSU from the University of Indianapolis where she led the Greyhounds to an 89-35 record; a .718 winning percentage, which is tops in UIndy history. The Greyhounds also made three consecutive NCAA tournament appearances under Freeland’s leadership.
 
The Sharks return 11 student-athletes from a squad that went 14-13, 6-10 SSC during the 2010-11 season. One of those returners is sophomore Jasmine Wilkins (Miami, Fla.), who will be looking to build on her freshman season when she averaged 7.6 points per game and 6.3 rebounds, which led to a selection to the All-SSC Freshmen team. Senior Quinessa Johnson (West Chester, Ohio) also averaged over seven points per contest for the Sharks last season and is one of five seniors that will lead the Sharks during the 2011-12 campaign.
 
Valdosta State finished last season with a 14-13 record, while going 7-5 in Gulf Coast Conference play. The Blazers return a total of eight players from its 2010-11 team, but only five saw time last season as the other three redshirted the season. Six newcomers join a Valdosta State squad that was selected to finish second in the Gulf Coast Conference preseason poll.
 
The Blazers retain their top two scorers from a season ago, as seniors Brittany Ferguson (11.9) and Sczeny Hartry (11.6) return for their final seasons at Valdosta State.
 
Columbus State is coming off a 15-12 season, with an 8-9 record in Peach Belt Conference play. The Lady Cougars are led by head coach Jonathan Norton who is in his third year at the helm of CSU’s women’s basketball program.
 
The Lady Cougars return three starters, including PBC preseason All-Conference team member, senior forward Dominique Gilbert. Gilbert led the conference in rebounding last season and averaged a double-double on the year, scoring 13.6 points and corralling 10 boards per game. CSU returns two other starters in sophomore guard Asha Alexander and senior forward Lauren Matheney. Both were key contributors last season, Alexander started 20 games and Matheny averaged 5.2 ppg for the Lady Cougars in 2010-11. 

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