FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Nova Southeastern University women’s basketball team (10-8) will break from Sunshine State Conference play as they host Palm Beach Atlantic (3-19) on Wednesday, Feb. 2 at 5:30 p.m. in the NSU Arena at the Don Taft University Center.

The Sharks will look to stop a five-game skid and regroup before starting conference action again.

In its last game, NSU fell to the No. 19 Rollins Tars, 80-79, on Saturday, Jan. 29 as Paris Moore hit a free-throw with 2.0 seconds left, giving the Tars the win.

Senior Stephanie Sarosi (Mims, Fla.) tallied a game-high 25 points against the Tars, raising her points per game to 17.3 for the season. Senior point guard Abbie Tepe (Cincinnati, Ohio) dished out a new career-high 11 assists while also adding 18 points. Tepe is now averaging double-figures in points per game with 10.0.

NSU is shooting 39 percent from the field, 31 percent from behind the arc and 70 percent from the free-throw line this season.

The Sharks defense is one of the best in the nation in blocking as it has nearly doubled its opponents in total blocks, 102-58.

With the help of Tepe, the Sharks reached 300 assists for the year, only the second team in the SSC conference to do so this season.

About Palm Beach Atlantic
The Sailfish are a quick squad with a limited bench. Despite its poor 3-19 record, PBA has fought in every game and even beat two SSC teams in Lynn (47-45) and Barry (49-47).

The eight-person team is led by Liz Fugate who averages 10.4 ppg, while Selethia Jackson is their leader on the boards with 8.6 rebounds per game.

The Sailfish has trouble handling the ball as it totals 456 turnovers in 22 games. They have allowed opponents to outscore them, 481-419.

In their last outing, Florida Southern dominated the game holding PBA to 37 points en route to a 90-37 loss. The Sailfish are currently on a three-game losing streak.

The Series vs. Palm Beach Atlantic
This will be the 18th meeting between the two teams. NSU extended the series lead to 14-3 after defeating the Sailfish 76-57 on Nov. 23 in West Palm Beach.

Tepe was the games leading scorer with 19 points. Junior Jada Buckner (Loudon, Tenn.) sat right behind Tepe with 15 points. For PBA, Ashley Dolberry recorded a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds while Hailey Fields added 14 points.

The Sharks struggled in the first half heading into the locker room down by one, 35-34. The Sharks regrouped and outscored PBA, 42-22 in the second half for their fourth straight victory of the year.

National Girls and Women’s In Sports Day
The game against Palm Beach Atlantic will be designated as National Girls and Women’s In Sports Day.

Since its inception in 1987, National Girls and Women in Sports Day has become the premiere occasion to celebrate the participation, success and accomplishments of girls and women athletes. What started in 1987 as a single event in Washington, D.C. to honor Olympic volleyball star Flo Hyman has grown into a nationwide celebration across all 50 states. On February 2, 2011, thousands will gather to celebrate NGWSD 2011 and "Play, Believe, Achieve." Athletes like Martina Navratilova, Candace Parker or Jessica Mendoza who played or are still playing are making a difference, overcoming difficult circumstances, breaking records and making things possible. Despite the stunning advances made in the 39 years since Title IX was enacted, high school girls still receive 1.3 million fewer participation opportunities than do boys, and evidence suggests that the money spent on girls' sports programs lags significantly behind the money spent on boys' programs.

The Women’s Sports Foundation is a member of the National Girls and Women in Sports Day (NGWSD) coalition. Other members include: Girls’ Incorporated, Girls Scouts of America, National Association for Girls and Women in Sport, and the National Women’s Law Center.

NGWSD is marked annually with events around the country and on Capitol Hill to commemorate the achievements of girls and women in athletics. It is also an important day to promote the continued expansion of opportunities for girls and women to play sports and live physically active lives.

Live video (Click HERE) and live stats (Click HERE) will be available for the 5:30 p.m. game. Follow NSU Basketball through Twitter at www.twitter.com/NSUSharks.