BOX SCORE
LAKELAND, Fla. – The Nova Southeastern women’s basketball team (12-8, 5-6 SSC) returned to the win column as the Sharks completed the season-sweep of the No. 18 Florida Southern Mocs (16-5, 7-4 SSC), 62-58, Saturday at the George W. Jenkins Field House.
Meixandra Porter (Jr., Chantilly, Va.) led the Sharks with a game-high 16 points on 4-for-6 shooting from 3-point range.
Jessica Russi (So., Lake Mary, Fla.) had a career-high 12 rebounds along with 11 points on 4-for-9 shooting. She also had six assists and matched a career-high with four steals.
The action in the first half started slow but the game eventually turned into an exciting shooting contest. The Sharks led only 2-0 almost three minutes into the game before both teams began knocking down shots. The teams traded the lead but the Sharks would eventually create some breathing room. They created their largest lead of the half with 1:55 remaining at eight points and entered the break ahead, 37-30.
Both teams shot over 50 percent from 3-point range in the half with the Sharks knocking down five of their nine attempts. Porter caught fire in the period, shooting 4-for-6 from the floor and 3-for-3 from downtown en route to 13 points.
The Sharks’ offense paused at the start of the second half as they nearly went five minutes without scoring. However, the defense came through as they held the Mocs to four points during that stretch. The scoring drought was snapped by a 3-pointer by
Jessica Walter (Sr., Knoxville, Tenn.). The trey sparked an 11-2 run which gave NSU its first double digit lead of the game.
The Sharks did not put the game away at that point as the Mocs came crawling back into the contest. The home team brought its deficit down to as low as two points with five minutes remaining. With the score at 52-50, the momentum shifted back in the Sharks’ favor with a 9-0 run. Florida Southern would make it interesting one more time by bringing the deficit back down to two points. However,
Quinessa Johnson (Sr., West Chester, Ohio) iced the game with a layup with 16 seconds remaining as the Sharks clinched a four-point win.
Jasmine Wilkins (So., Miami, Fla.) also had a strong outing with 12 points on 5-for-8 shooting.
Richelle Carach (So., Naples, Fla.) came off the bench and posted nine points and seven rebounds.
The Sharks will stay on the road as they face the Florida Tech Panthers in Melbourne, Fla. Wednesday, Feb. 8 at 5:30 p.m.
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