Box Score
MIAMI – The Nova Southeastern women's basketball team fell in their only exhibition of the 2013-14 preseason, 75-69, to Division I opponent Florida International on Sunday night.
Amanda Burakoski (Sr., Brooklyn N.Y.), led the Sharks with 18 points, 14 coming after the break. She was 8-for-11 from the field for the game.
Jasmine Wilkins (Sr., Miami), playing in her first game since the end of the 2011-12 season, had a fantastic return as she had 17 points and a team-high eight rebounds. Fifteen of her points came in the first half on 7-of-8 shooting.
The Sharks led throughout the majority of the first 20 minutes, by as many as nine (17-8, 12:02). The Panthers regained the lead at the 5:44 mark, 24-23, and was ahead the remainder of the half. Jerica Coley's pull-up 3-pointer at the horn, part of her 24 point first-half effort, put the Panthers up nine, 43-34.
The second half saw FIU gain momentum early and push out by as many as 15 on two occasions. The Sharks had a 3-point barrage in the latter part of the half, with two from Burakoski and one from
Taylor Buie (So., Puyallup, Wash.) in a two-minute span. They cut it to six with 6:08 remaining, 63-57.
The Panthers scored four straight and stayed ahead by a comfortable margin until another Shark flurry late. NSU cut it to four with 12.2 seconds remaining, 73-69, but FIU made two free throws for the final margin.
FIU was able to hold off the Sharks behind 45 points from Coley. She was 14-of-27 from the field, 4-of-7 from behind the arc, and 13-of-16 from the free throw line. Teammate Marita Davydova had a double-double with 17 points and 13 rebounds, though she fouled out with 2:48 left.
The Panthers outrebounded 52-33, and had 21 offensive rebounds. The Sharks outshot the home team, 41.3 percent to 39.3 percent.
Besides Wilkins and Burakoski, Buie and
Molly Blomer (So., West Chester, Ohio) each had nine points, while
Danielle Robinson (So., Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) had seven.
Jessica Russi (Sr., Lake Mary, Fla.) led the team with five assists.
The Sharks begin the regular season at home with the NSU Tipoff Classic, Nov. 9-10. Their first game of the regular season is noon on Nov. 9 against Washburn.
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