Written by Josh Streimer

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Sharks' rivalry with Barry University goes deeper than playing in the same conference and having main campuses separated by just 18 miles. For the Perez family it has become a sibling rivalry. Priscilla Perez, senior guard for the Sharks will take on her older sister, Melissa Perez's former team, Barry University Wednesday, Feb. 16.

However, amidst the rivalry, the two sisters put family before the game that they both share a passion for. During the 2006-07 season, Melissa transferred to Palm Beach Atlantic University, and had no problem giving Priscilla some insider tips on how to approach the Barry game, saying "family is more important than a former team."

As you can imagine having two siblings compete against each other is a nightmare for any parent and Joel and Lucy Perez were no different. Thankfully for both Joel and Lucy, the girls only played against each other a few times, more importantly, Melissa has graduated and moved on past the game of basketball.

While both girls really seemed to enjoy their parents cheering them on during their games, the girls' one request for their parents was that they wear neutral team colors to the games where the two played against each other. "Our parents wouldn't talk throughout the game, they were completely silent," Priscilla said. While their parents would rarely talk about the game, the girls had no problem with talking smack to each other throughout the week leading up to the game which Melissa jokingly says, "was kind of expected since Priscilla was the younger sister." The girls said that the trash talking would usually end that night at the dinner table, where one sibling would always have a little more to say than the other during dinner conversation those nights.

Priscilla credits her sister as being an outstanding student with an impeccable academic work ethic as well as an overall role model. On the court Priscilla said, "Melissa had a nice floater that I would try to replicate back in high school." The girls did have different playing styles, Melissa being thought of as having an offensive style of play whereas Priscilla considers herself a better defensive player.

Yet, one thing that players, coaches and fans always expected from both girls was for them to bring 110 percent every day. Whether it was in the gym, on the court in practice or during the games, Assistant Coach Katherine Higier even said, "Priscilla is one of the team's hardest workers. She gives it her all every time out there." The girls credit their parents for instilling the value of tough work ethic into each of them, which is something that both Melissa and Priscilla point out as their best attribute in not only each other, but themselves as well.

Priscilla and Melissa didn't always have the fun loving bond that they now share. In fact, both girls admit that the one on one backyard basketball games they would play as kids, which Priscilla insists they split, would end up getting pretty violent. Melissa said "it would get pretty nasty, we would scratch and punch," before Priscilla cut off her older sister, to remind Melissa that she was always the one hurting her from the physical play.

While Priscilla wants a shot at pay back on her older sister, Melissa knows that she is not in the shape she once was when she played collegiately. However, Melissa didn't back down to the challenge from her younger sister saying, "give me a few months to train and then we can really play."

Before every game you can expect Priscilla's phone to light up with a text that reads: "shoot, have fun, and play with confidence,'" coming from Melissa who is not only her role model and older sister, but most importantly, her best friend. The game Wednesday, Jan 16 in Miami Shores against the Bucs will be no different as the Sharks look to sweep the season series.