BOX SCORE

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Nova Southeastern women’s basketball team (6-2, 0-1) battled back from nine down at the half to tie the game with under 30 seconds to play, but a late layup for Danielle DeBerry gave Barry (3-3, 1-0) a 60-58 victory at the NSU Arena in the Don Taft University Center Saturday.
 
The Sharks struggled to find their offensive rhythm early in the contest, falling behind 13-6 after DeBerry converted an old fashioned three-point play. NSU rallied to close the gap to three, 15-12, when Meixandra Porter (Jr., Chantilly, Va.) converted a fast break layup off her own steal with 12:49 left on the clock in the first half.
 
The Buccaneers continued to find success in their offense though, extending the lead to as many as 12 points on three different occasions. NSU closed the half with a 3-pointer from Jessica Russi (So., Lake Mary, Fla.) to go into the break down nine, 32-23.
 
DeBerry (13) and Yvonne Houston (11) each scored over 10 points in the opening stanza for the Bucs, while Porter and Jasmine Wilkins (So., Miami, Fla.) both tallied six for the Sharks.
 
NSU found an offensive spark during the break and opened the second half on a 13-2 run, evening the score at 36-36. Quinessa Johnson (Sr., West Chester, Ohio) scored six points during the run for the Sharks.
 
Play remained close through the half, with the biggest lead coming at the 10:06 mark when Russi drilled another 3-pointer to put the Sharks ahead 47-42. The eighth tie of the contest came with just 1:44 left to play, as Kaley Howard knocked down a free throw for the Bucs, knotting the score at 58-58.
 
NSU had numerous opportunities down the stretch to claim the lead, missing a trio of shots, but it would be DeBerry who would provide the dagger to the NSU hopeful with one second left to play.
 
Houston led all scorers with 23 points for the Bucs. DeBerry added 16, while Alexandria Zamora finished with a double-double, 14 rebounds and 11 points. Russi paced the Sharks with 14 points in 27 minutes of action. Wilkins recorded her second double-double of the season with 12 points and 10 boards.
 
NSU has a full week off before making its first conference road trip to Eckered Dec. 10.

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