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FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The No. 23 Nova Southeastern women’s basketball team will host Saint Leo this Saturday at the NSU Arena the Don Taft University Center, with tip off at 2 p.m.
The Sharks (14-4, 6-2 SSC) and the Lions (10-8, 5-3 SSC) are separated by one game in the conference standings, and Saint Leo defeated NSU earlier this season, 73-69 on Dec. 1. It was the first loss of the season for the Sharks, who had won their first five games by an average of 46 points.
“Saint Leo turned heads nationally when they beat us at their place in December,” said head coach LeAnn Freeland. “After watching the game again, there is no doubt they earned the win. We have been working on our mindset over the past few weeks and will use this game as a measuring stick. We are excited to see how far we have come as a team."
The Lions have won three of their last four games in conference play, including a 52-48 win over Rollins Wednesday. They feature the conference’s leading rebounder, Chelsea Connelly (10.3) and the top shooter from the field, Chelsea Williams (54.8%, just mere percentage points ahead of the Sharks’
Amanda Burakoski).
"Coach (Nikki) Jessee has done a tremendous job changing the culture of Saint Leo basketball in her second season,” said Freeland. “Even though they were picked at the bottom of the league in the preseason, they clearly didn't pay any attention to those expectations. Now, they are in contention for the conference title. They are a hard-working team who has great chemistry and run their system well."
The same night that Saint Leo toppled Rollins, NSU had little trouble dispatching Barry, 89-43. Five Sharks scored in double digits and all 10 NSU players scored. In addition, they set a season high with 27 assists (compared to only five for the Buccaneers), and for the eighth time this year, went into double digits as a team in 3-pointers made, with 13.
“Our outside shooting was solid because we made easy passes and extra passes,” said Freeland. “It was our most selfless offensive outing of the season, which enabled us to tally those 27 assists."
Defensively, the Sharks held the Buccaneers to 33 percent shooting, and set another season-high mark by forcing 31 turnovers. That enabled NSU to win points off turnovers, 47-13.
"Against Barry, our players implemented our defensive principles well,” said Freeland. “We had great ball pressure and help side defense. Our intensity on the defensive end led to stops and easy scores on the opposite end. To be consistent, we must bring the energy and discipline on defense every day."
Tipoff is 2 p.m. Saturday, and fans at home can tune in via live audio/video
HERE and for live stats
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SHARK STATS
• The Sharks moved back atop the SSC in 3-point field goal percentage with their 13-for-30 effort against Barry. For the season, they are shooting 35.6 percent from behind the arc as a team. That is one of now nine conference-leading categories for the squad.
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Meixandra Porter (Sr., Chantilly, Va.) had her 15th double-digit scoring output of the season against Barry, with a game-high 19. Her 16.0 point-per-game average is still second in the SSC, and she moved into first place in 3-pointers made per game at 2.6. She continues to lead the conference in steals, also at 2.6 per game.
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Danielle Robinson (So., Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) is just behind Porter with 14 games of 10 points or more. She is still fifth in the SSC in scoring at 14.4 points per game.
• As mentioned before, Burakoski (Jr., Brooklyn, N.Y.) is just percentage points behind Saint Leo’s Williams in field goal percentage (.5483% to .5480%). Burakoski is also second in 3-point field goal percentage (43.8%), third in 3-pointers per game (2.2) and tied for fifth in steals (2.1).
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Jessica Russi (Jr., Lake Mary, Fla.) is averaging a conference-high 5.2 assists per game, while
Tailor Jones (Sr., Altamonte Springs, Fla.) is right behind her in second at 4.1. Jones matched her NSU career best with eight assists versus Barry, and also had her first multiple-block game with two.
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Taylor Buie (Fr., Puyallup, Wash.) had 17 points against Barry, one off her career high (18 against Alabama-Huntsville on Nov. 18 ). She did set a new best against the Bucs with five assists, and tied her season high with four 3-pointers.
• Another freshman,
Molly Blomer (West Chester, Ohio) hit two three-pointers against Barry as part of an eight-point effort. It was her first career game with multiple three-pointers.
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