Box Score
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The No. 4 Nova Southeastern women's basketball team notched their program-record 10th straight win, overcoming a 14-point first-half deficit to top the Eckerd Tritons on Saturday, 69-50.
The Sharks (10-0, 2-0 SSC) trailed 37-23 with 5:28 to go in the first, but scored the last five points before the break and first 10 points after. With that, they led Eckerd (6-4, 0-1 SSC) 38-37, their first lead since the 18:08 mark in the first half.
After a Rana Thomas basket for the Tritons gave them a 39-38 lead, the Sharks scored 21 of the next 25 points to push the game out of reach. Overall, it was a 36-6 run at that point, with 3:09 remaining. NSU's defense held the home team to 14.8 percent shooting in the second half (4-of-27), and 0-for-6 from behind the arc after Eckerd had made six first-half 3-pointers.
"Eckerd played an outstanding first half," said head coach LeAnn Freeland. "We need to continue to prepare for everyone's best game. At halftime, we regrouped, made a few minor adjustments and came out strong. Our effort on the defensive end was the best we've had all season."
Taylor Buie (So., Puyallup, Wash.) led the Sharks with 18 points, including 4-of-7 shooting from long range.
Jasmine Wilkins (Sr., Miami) was just a rebound shy of a double-double, with 16 points on 7-of-10 shooting, and nine boards.
Joining the duo in double digits were
Danielle Robinson (Jr., Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) with 13 and
Richelle Carach (Sr., Naples, Fla.), extending her personal streak to all 10 games this season with 12 on Saturday. Point guard
Jessica Russi (Sr., Lake Mary, Fla.) had 10 or more assists for the fifth time this year with 13, assisting on exactly half of the Sharks' 26 baskets.
NSU outrebounded Eckerd 40-32 despite two Tritons having 10 or more rebounds: Liga Vente with 13 and Ivana Grbic's 10. Vente added a team-high 12 points for a double-double, while Amy Buccilla added 11 points and Kayla Bowlin 10.
"Whether a player was in the game or not, she was mentally in the game," said Freeland. "At one point after a key play early in the second half, I turned to make sure everyone was celebrating, and there were eight players and coaches standing and cheering behind me. That is the key to being a great team; we must stand up and weather the storms together."
The Sharks are back in action on Wednesday night, for another SSC road matchup, against Lynn in Boca Raton, Fla. Tipoff is 5:30 p.m.
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