BOX SCORE

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Quinessa Johnson (Sr., West Chester, Ohio) and Meixandra Porter (Jr., Chantilly, Va.) each scored a game-high 13 points, as the Nova Southeastern women’s basketball team (6-1) downed Florida Memorial (3-4), 64-40, on the road Wednesday evening.
 
Head coach LeAnn Freeland is now tied with last season’s interim head coach Ann Walker for the best start to a coaching career at NSU at 6-1.
 
The Sharks wasted little time taking control of the game, jumping out to a 12-point lead, 13-1, just four minutes in. Jasmine Wilkins (So., Miami, Fla.) dropped in a pair of fast break layups, while Jada Buckner (Sr., Loudon, Tenn.) drilled a 3-pointer off a Porter assist.
 
The Lions fought back though, going on an 8-0 run to cut the deficit to four after a Kalcia Battle jumper. Richelle Carach (So., Naples, Fla.) stopped the Florida Memorial scoring by recording one of NSU’s season-high seven blocks. Porter then snared a steal and took the ball the length of the floor for an easy bucket.
 
The Sharks extended their lead to 18, 31-13, late in the first half when Jessica Russi (So., Lake Mary, Fla.) stole the ball from Melissa Sanchez and took it the other way for two points.
 
As a team, NSU shot 50 percent (14-28) from the field, as Johnson went 4-for-6 in the opening 20 minutes. Russi, showing her strength on the defensive end, went into the halftime break with a pair of blocks and steals.
 
NSU quickly pushed the lead to 20 in the second half, as Johnson stole the ball and hit Jessica Walter (Sr., Knoxville, Tenn.) in transition for another layup. The Sharks continued to play hard through the half, creating a 26-point advantage, 52-26, when Wilkins grabbed an offensive rebound and put it back up for two more Sharks’ points.
 
Emiliya Yancheva (Sr., Sofia, Bulgaria) entered the game for the Sharks with 5:37 left to play and minute later made her presence known, draining a trey from the right corner to put NSU ahead by 30. The Lions scored six of the games final seven points, but NSU came away with a 64-40 victory in its first road game of the season.
 
All 12 players on the Sharks’ roster entered the game Wednesday night. Wilkins contributed 10 points for NSU, while Danielle Robinson (Fr., Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) added nine. The Sharks once again dominated the glass, grabbing 49 rebounds compared to the Lions 31. Wilkins and Porter each snagged seven boards, while Robinson and Carach each had six. Porter also registered a season-high four steals. Dominique Butler tallied 12 points to lead the Lions, while Ashlee Villard recorded eight rebounds.
 
NSU opens conference play this Saturday, Dec. 3, as Barry makes the short trip north to take on the Sharks at the NSU Arena. Tip-off on Saturday is slated for 2 p.m.

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