Box Score BOX SCORE
WINTER PARK, Fla. – The Nova Southeastern women’s basketball team used a late 17-0 run to defeat No. 19 Rollins on the road Wednesday night, 77-62, and move into sole possession of first place in the Sunshine State Conference.
The game was tied at 60-60 when the Tars’ Sarah Blackburn hit a jumper with exactly 8:00 remaining. From then until the 1:16 mark, the Sharks (11-3, 3-1 SSC) scored all 17 points in the game and, coupled with losses by Tampa and Florida Tech, took hold of the top spot in the conference.
Amanda Burakoski (Jr., Brooklyn, N.Y.) had a career-high 27 points in the game, and started the run with a 3-point play. During the deciding stretch, she also had a 3-pointer, one of her four on the night, and to end the run, a step-back ‘2’ with her foot on the line.
"Amanda did a great job on the offensive end," said head coach LeAnn Freeland. "She has been working harder to get shots and her recent numbers speak for themselves."
In what could be called a homecoming of sorts for them, two Sharks filled the stat sheet Wednesday.
Tailor Jones (Sr., Altamonte Springs, Fla.) had eight points, 10 rebounds, three assists and three steals, while
Jessica Russi (Jr., Lake Mary, Fla.) had eight points, nine rebounds (five offensive), four assists and four steals.
"In order to win big games, players have to make big plays," said Freeland. "One player after another stepped up tonight to make sure we secured the win."
Other top efforts included
Taylor Buie (Fr., Puyallup, Wash.) and
Meixandra Porter (Sr., Chantilly, Va.), who each chipped in with nine points, with Porter adding a team-high five assists. In addition,
Danielle Robinson (So., Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) had an off-night in the scoring column with only six points, but tied Jones for the team high with 10 rebounds.
"Our players fought very hard for the win," said Freeland. "We had a great team effort on the boards (the Sharks won the rebounding battle 43-29), but Tailor, Danielle and Jessica really took care of business."
The game was back and forth all throughout, with the 60-60 score the ninth tie of the night, in addition to eight lead changes. It was a four-point lead for Rollins (10-4, 1-3 SSC) at the half, 36-32, and the Sharks didn’t take their first lead after the break until nearly four minutes in, when Buie hit her first of three 3-pointers in the half at the 16:18 mark.
NSU opened up a 10-point lead soon thereafter, 54-44, at the 11:37 mark. But Rollins stormed back on their home floor with a 16-6 run. Unfortunately for the Tars, that was the 60-60 tie, and the Sharks would go on for the 15-point win.
The Sharks will have their second consecutive conference road matchup with a ranked opponent Saturday. They will face the No. 15 Tampa Spartans at 2 p.m.
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