FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The No. 20 Nova Southeastern women’s basketball team finishes up a three-game homestand on Wednesday when they face Eckerd College at the NSU Arena in the Don Taft University Center, with tipoff at 5:30 p.m.
With a win over the Tritons, NSU (15-4, 7-2 SSC) would move into sole possession of first place atop the SSC standings. The Sharks and Florida Tech are each 7-2 in conference play, but the Panthers are off on Wednesday.
The Sharks have won three straight and nine out of their last 10, and moved up three slots in Tuesday’s USA Today Sports Coaches Poll. Last week, NSU won back-to-back games on their home floor against conference opponents, Jan. 30 over Barry (89-43), followed up by a 78-63 victory versus Saint Leo on Feb. 2.
In addition to the team’s success, guard
Meixandra Porter (Sr., Chantilly, Va.) was honored as the most recent SSC Player of the Week, presented by VALIC. Porter averaged 20 points in the two wins, and is in the top five in the conference in five different categories, which includes the top slot in both steals (2.6) and 3-pointers made per game (also 2.6). She has scored in double digits in 16 of the Sharks’ 19 games this season, and in 41 of 47 career games in two seasons at NSU.
“Meix has been our most consistent player for each of the last two seasons,” said head coach LeAnn Freeland. “Because she is very coachable and works hard every day in practice to improve her skills, she is also one of the best players in the country. She is a true competitor and is feeling the sense of urgency only a senior can feel. As we have seen over the past several games, Meix is leading our team as we enter the second round of conference play.”
While Porter is the Sharks’ leading scorer (and second among all SSC players) at 16.3 per game, the team has seen recent contributions from players one through 10.
“Our team has depth and talent in all positions,” said Freeland. “When looking at statistics, our staff has noticed that when everyone gets time on the court, our production improves. With six of our 10 active players being newcomers, it makes sense why it has taken a while to fully understand our style of play and our program standards. It has been nice to see our growth, especially since early January. ”
For the second time in three games,
Julia Salmio (Jr., Vantaa, Finland) provided interior scoring off the bench, with eight points in 12 minutes of action against Saint Leo.
Molly Blomer (Fr., West Chester, Ohio) had five points and
Alexis Murphy (Fr., Carlisle, Ohio) added four.
The team has also shown a recent uptick in shooting from the free throw line. After struggling on the road against Lynn, the Sharks have gone a combined 27-for-31 for a staggering 87 percent success rate in their last two contests.
NSU and Eckerd (8-9, 4-5 SSC) matched up in St. Petersburg on Jan. 5. The Sharks scored the first eight points of the game and never trailed in defeating the Tritons, 84-58. Eckerd has lost their last three in conference play, most recently getting nipped by Rollins, 52-50 on Feb. 2.
“Eckerd is a talented team with size and skill, and they run their offensive system well,” said Freeland. “Plus, they are exceptional from behind the arc. It will be important that we are focused on the defensive end for all 40 minutes.”
Tipoff is 5:30 p.m. Wednesday in Fort Lauderdale, and fans at home can tune in via live audio/video
HERE and for live stats
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SHARK STATS
• Porter’s conference-leading totals also put her in the upper echelon among all Division II players. Her 3-point figure is 23rd in the country, and her steal average slots at 53rd. She is also 53rd nationally, and fourth in the SSC, in 3-point field goal percentage (37.9%).
• Porter’s 10-for-10 game from the line against Saint Leo ties the NSU all-time record for free throw percentage in a game (she is the fourth Shark to be perfect, with a minimum of 10 attempts). In addition, she is five steals away from 100 in her Shark career, and her 50 made 3-pointers so far this year is the fourth-highest season total since the school moved to D-II.
• In addition to Porter, two more Sharks rank in the top six in the SSC in scoring:
Danielle Robinson (So., Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) is fifth at 13.9 points per game, while
Amanda Burakoski (Jr., Brooklyn, N.Y.) is just behind her at 13.5.
• Burakoski moved back into first place among all SSC shooters – and is also 12th in the nation – in field goal percentage, at 55.1 percent. Her 3-point percentage of 44.8 ranks her second in the conference and seventh nationally, and her 2.3 made 3-pointers per game is good enough for third in the SSC.
•
Jessica Russi (Jr., Lake Mary, Fla.) led the Sharks in assists against Saint Leo for the 11th time this season and is one of only 25 D-II players at five APG or above (5.2, 15th). She has led the SSC in assists in every statistical report this season.
• The Sharks lead the SSC in eight team categories, and ranks in the nation’s top 20 in seven of them: scoring margin (second), field goal percentage (third), scoring offense (fourth), 3-point field goals made (fourth), assists (ninth), steals (16th) and turnover margin (17th).
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