Box Score BOX SCORE
TAMPA, Fla. – For the second time in as many games, the Nova Southeastern women’s basketball team knocked off a ranked Sunshine State Conference opponent on the road, topping No. 15 Tampa on Saturday afternoon, 68-61.
The Sharks (12-3, 4-1 SSC), just as they did when they defeated No. 19 Rollins in Winter Park on Wednesday, trailed at the half, 36-35. But they started the second half with a 9-0 run to take a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.
The remainder of the half wasn’t without drama, however. The 9-0 run eventually turned into a 14-4 stretch to put Sharks up nine (49-40, 14:25). However, Tampa would go on a 7-0 run to cut it to two with 12:09 remaining.
From then until the 7:43 mark, the Sharks scored six straight, capped by a layup by
Amanda Burakoski (Jr., Brooklyn, N.Y.) off a nice assist from
Tailor Jones (Sr., Altamonte Springs, Fla.). Burakoski, NSU’s leading scorer in six of their last seven games coming in, was held to just five points, and this was her first field goal Saturday. But it and her second made shot of the night couldn’t have come at more opportune times.
NSU went back ahead a few minutes later at 61-54, but again, Tampa would make a charge. They once more cut it to two points, at 61-59, with 2:07 remaining. Burakoski would come through this time with a 3-point goal at the 1:52 mark, and the closest Tampa would be the rest of the game was four points.
"Tampa is a very good team," said head coach LeAnn Freeland. "We knew it was going to be a battle for 40 minutes. Our players did a great job sticking together the entire game and making adjustments needed to get the win."
Meixandra Porter (Sr., Chantilly, Va.) led all scorers in the game with 20 points, including four 3-pointers, and three key free throws in the final 36 seconds.
Danielle Robinson (So., Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) had 14 points, and
Jessica Russi (Jr., Lake Mary, Fla.) chipped in with nine points while leading the Sharks with six assists and five rebounds. Jones had eight points and four assists.
Tampa (11-3, 2-3 SSC) was led by Moriah Hodge’s 18 points, and Illyssa Vivo, who had 16, but only two points after the break. Saturday marked the first game that NSU was outrebounded by their opponent but still won (27-25 in favor of UT).
"This was a nice win, especially since we weren't as sharp offensively as usual," said Freeland. "We missed shots at the rim that we typically make. However, we made up for the missed layups with an outstanding effort from behind the 3-point line (the Sharks were 10-of-24 from behind the arc on Saturday)."
The Sharks, winners of six straight, head back to Fort Lauderdale for a home conference matchup Wednesday with Florida Tech. Tipoff from the NSU Arena at the Don Taft University Center is 5:30 p.m.
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