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FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Nova Southeastern women’s basketball team returns to the NSU Arena at the Don Taft University Center for the first time in nearly two months as they host the Florida Southern Mocs Saturday, beginning at 2 p.m.
Since defeating Alabama-Huntsville at home on Nov. 18, the Sharks (9-3, 1-1 SSC) have had seven road contests, including two-game sets in Raleigh, N.C., and Melbourne, Fla. Over those seven games, NSU suffered their first three losses of the year, but have turned around and won their last three contests.
Last Saturday, Jan. 5, the Sharks evened up their SSC record by defeating Eckerd on the road. For the second straight contest, the team cut down on their turnovers, committing only 15 in the 84-58 win.
“We pass the ball very well, but sometimes we try to force passes too early in the offense,” said head coach LeAnn Freeland. “As I said before, it is our New Year’s resolution to show more discipline offensively and wait for an easy pass to develop. Our point guard play has been much improved over the past two weeks by being more patient and letting the offense flow.”
That improvement has hinged on the continued steady play of
Jessica Russi (Jr., Lake Mary, Fla.), who ranks first in the conference and fourth overall in all of Division II in assists per game (6.3), as well as on the return to the lineup of
Tailor Jones (Sr., Altamonte Springs, Fla.). Jones missed three games in mid-December, but in her first start back, against Eckerd, she set new NSU career highs with 17 points and eight assists.
Another telling statistic for the 9-3 Sharks is that in every one of their wins, they have outrebounded their opponents, but were outrebounded in all three of their losses.
“Rebounding is a critical statistic,” said Freeland. “Our players are well aware of how rebounding impacts the outcome of games. It is one of our points of emphasis in every practice and going into every game.”
The team remains atop the Division II rankings in scoring margin, defeating their opponents by an average of more than 25 points a game. They also rank among the nation’s top five in four other team categories: third in scoring offense (82.4 PPG), fourth in assists (19.2), and fifth in both field goal percentage (47%) and 3-point field goals made per game (8.9).
“Our program is fortunate to have players who can score in a variety of ways,” said Freeland. “However, it is our defense which drives our offense. It is important we continue to place our focus on defensive pressure and attention to detail in game scouts.”
Florida Southern (7-5, 2-1 SSC) fell for the first time in conference play last time out, Wednesday against Saint Leo, after earlier defeating both Lynn and Barry.
“Florida Southern is currently in a four-way tie for first place in the SSC,” said Freeland. “They are a team that plays very hard, gets a lot of second chance opportunities from offensive rebounds, and knows how to win.”
SHARK STATS
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Meixandra Porter (Sr., Chantilly, Va.) is second in the SSC in scoring (17.3), steals (2.8) and 3-point field goals made per game (2.7).
Danielle Robinson (So., Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), who had a game-high 20 points against Eckerd, is fourth in the conference in scoring (15.4) as well as in steals (2.3).
• With her hot streak as of late,
Amanda Burakoski (Jr., Brooklyn, N.Y.) has shot up to second in the SSC in field goal percentage (55.5%), fourth in 3-point percentage (43.1%) and sixth in 3-pointers made a game (2.1). That field goal percentage mark ranks her 21st nationally, and her 3-point field goal percentage is good enough for 25th. Saturday against Eckerd, she was nearly flawless, going 6-for-7 from the field for 12 points, to notch her eighth double-digit scoring output of the season, and sixth straight.
• Jones has re-entered the SSC rankings after dropping out when she missed games due to injury. She is second in the league in assists (4.6), seventh in steals (2.1) and assist/turnover ratio (1.2), and ninth in field goal percentage (48.6%).
• Russi is third in the conference in assist/turnover ratio (1.6).
• Besides the aforementioned high national rankings, the team is also 16th in steals (13.5), 17th in 3-point field goal defense (23.9%) and 24th in turnover margin (+5.6).
• The Sharks continue to lead the SSC in scoring offense, scoring margin, field goal percentage, assists, steals, assist/turnover ratio and 3-point field goals made.
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