Box Score BOX SCORE
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The No. 23 Nova Southeastern women’s basketball team placed five in double digits in routing Barry Wednesday night at the NSU Arena in the Don Taft University Center, 89-43.
With 8:30 to go in the first half, the Sharks (14-4, 6-2 SSC) led the Buccaneers (10-7, 2-6 SSC) by only one point, 14-13. From that point until the halftime horn, NSU outscored the visitors 20-4, with
Taylor Buie (Fr., Puyallup, Wash.) hitting three 3-pointers in that span.
The run didn’t stop with the break. The Sharks started out the second half with a 13-2 run, making it a 33-6 spurt overall. At that point, with 17:24 remaining, it was a 47-19 game. NSU would go on to lead by as many as 50, with 2:20 left.
"Tonight we had a great team effort," said head coach LeAnn Freeland. "Our staff challenged the players after the Lynn game and they certainly responded together."
Meixandra Porter (Sr., Chantilly, Va.) led all scorers with 19 points, which included four 3-pointers. Buie was next, with 17, while also making four from long distance. Three players had 10 points each:
Amanda Burakoski (Jr., Brooklyn, N.Y.),
Richelle Carach (Jr., Naples, Fla.) and
Tailor Jones (Sr., Altamonte Springs, Fla.), and two more Sharks –
Molly Blomer (Fr., West Chester, Ohio) and
Danielle Robinson (So., Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) – were only a basket away from joining their teammates in double figures, as they each had eight points. All 10 Sharks that appeared in the game scored.
Carach had the team's high in rebounds, with eight, and Jones led a 27-5 Shark advantage in assists with eight on the night.
"Our selflessness on the offensive end was exceptional," said Freeland. "We made the extra pass and communicated well for open shots versus Barry's zone."
The Sharks’ defense was also a key in the victory, forcing Barry into 31 turnovers (the most by an NSU opponent this year), resulting in a 47-13 advantage in points off those miscues. NSU also held the Buccaneers to 33 percent shooting, while shooting 55 percent themselves, the team’s highest since Jan. 5 against Eckerd.
"Our players buckled down on the defensive end and it was evident they want to continue to improve going into the final stretch," said Freeland. "As Danielle (Robinson) stated in the huddle after the game, we must keep improving."
The Sharks shot well from all distances, burying 13 from behind the arc, and going 10-of-12 from the free throw line. The latter, 83 percent, is 50 points higher than the team shot last time out, against Lynn on Jan. 26.
NSU and Florida Tech are still tied atop the SSC standings, as the Panthers defeated Tampa Wednesday night on the road, 58-54. Both teams are back in action Saturday. NSU will be at home again, hosting Saint Leo at 2:30. At the same time, FIT will also be at home, taking on tonight’s Shark opposition, Barry.
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