Box Score SAVANNAH, Ga. – The No. 4 Nova Southeastern University women's basketball team survived a tough battle against Clayton State at the B.J. Ford Classic at Armstrong State, scoring eight of the last 10 points to win on Friday night, 72-64.
The Sharks (3-0) started the game off scorching hot, making eight of their first nine shots and taking a 19-9 early lead. At the half, despite giving up 13 offensive rebounds to the Lakers (2-1), they led 38-31.
They were still ahead 44-35 with 15:59 to go, but then the game became a series of runs on both sides. Clayton State was the first to string one together, a 9-2 spurt to cut it to two, 46-44, with 11:53 left.
Danielle Robinson's (Sr., Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) 3-pointer started a 7-2 run for the Sharks to extend the lead back out to seven, 53-46 (10:17). But Tiayra Green's '3' kicked off an 8-0 run for the Lakers to give them their first lead since 4-2 at 54-53 at the 8:10 mark.
Just as quickly as Clayton State got their eight, the Sharks strung together eight straight of their own. Two free throws by
Jasmine Wilkins (R-Sr., Miami); a monster blocked shot and outlet pass by Wilkins to Robinson for a breakaway layup; and then back-to-back Laker turnovers led to layups by both Robinson and Wilkins to put the Sharks back ahead, 61-54 (6:20).
Clayton State again cut it to two, 64-62, with 2:55 remaining. But Wilkins' three-point play with two minutes left spurred another 8-0 run, and the Lakers didn't score again until a DaQueena Moore jumper with 17 seconds left made the final score.
Though the Lakers had 21 offensive rebounds in total, the Sharks held them to just one in the final 11:27. They would outrebound their taller opponents for the game, 35-33, led by
Jessica Valley's (R-Jr., Lafayette, Ind.) seven, and five each from Robinson and
Monaye Merritt (R-Jr., Philadelphia).
Wilkins had 10 of the Sharks' final 21 points, and 17 overall to lead the team.
Kayla Wright (So., Lauderhill, Fla.) was 8-of-9 from the field for 16 points, while Robinson had 13 and Merritt 10, along with five assists and four steals.
Moore led the Lakers with a double-double performance of 18 points and 11 rebounds. Yishica Sims added 14.
The Sharks will return to action on Saturday, facing the hosts Armstrong State. Tip off is 4 p.m. from the Alumni Arena.
