FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Dating back its rivalry to 1999, the Nova Southeastern University women’s basketball team (13-9, 5-7 SSC) and the Barry Buccaneers (10-13, 3-10 SSC) will face off for the second time this season on Wednesday, Feb. 12 at 5 p.m. at the Health and Sports Center in Miami Shores, Fla.
The Sharks are coming off a heartbreaking 69-67 loss to Eckerd on Saturday, Jan. 12. The Sharks led by a point with 12 seconds left, but Eckerd’s Kati Rausberg drained a miracle buzzer-beater from three feet behind the arc clinching NSU’s second loss by two-points or less.
Stephanie Sarosi (Sr., Mims, Fla.) paced the Sharks and earned team-highs with 22 points and nine rebounds. Abbie Tepe (Sr., Cincinnati, Ohio) earned a game-high 10 assists along with 16 points and three steals. Tepe, who finished with three boards, passed former teammate Eliza Allen (2005-09) for third all-time in career rebounds at NSU.
In the second half of SSC play, the Sharks are 2-0 on the road after starting the season 0-4 in conference away from the confines of its home court.
Sarosi still reign’s as the conference’s leading scorer, averaging 18.1 ppg while Tepe has overtaken the No. 1 spot in assists per game with 6.2.
Tepe is also making national waves sitting third in assists per game in all of Division II.
About Barry
Although Barry averages a mere amount points per game at 58.7, they make up for it by being a stickler on defense holding opponents to 54.1 ppg, good for first in the SSC.
Nadia Tijani scored a career-high 17 points for the Bucs, while Shanna Suttington added 12 in BU’s 63-55 loss to Florida Tech.
Yvonne Houston is currently Barry’s leading scorer with 13.9 ppg.
The game against NSU will mark the final home game for the Bucs as they will host senior night to honor five BU seniors.
The Series vs. Barry
Neither team is dominating the all-times series but with a win on Jan. 12, NSU has the 14-12 edge. Despite the win, the Sharks failed to pull out a victory in Miami Shores. Barry pulled out a 62-51 win on their home court last season.
Freshman
Jasmine Wilkins (Miami, Fla.) was unstoppable for the Sharks as she tallied a career-high 22 points. She was 8-for-12 from the floor and perfect from the free throw line as she hit all six.
Junior transfer
Quinessa Johnson (West Chester, Ohio) was also a key factor in the win as she finished with 14 points.
SSC Standings
Florida Southern is still the No. 1 seed holding a 10-2 record, with Florida Tech and Tampa both with three losses at 9-3, respectively, at second and third, respectively. Rollins (8-5), Eckerd (7-6) and NSU (5-7) are in the middle of the pack as Lynn (4-8), Barry (3-10) and Saint Leo (1-12) round out the standings.
If the Sharks defeat Eckerd, NSU will move up one spot in the standings as conference play begins to wind down. A win will also clinch a spot in the SSC Tournament as eight of the nine teams have a chance to win the conference tournament.
