Box Score
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The No. 4 Nova Southeastern women's basketball team opened up a 28-point first-half lead on their way to a 36-point victory, 84-48, over Sunshine State Conference foe Eckerd Wednesday night at the NSU Arena.
The Sharks (18-1, 9-1 SSC) scored 13 straight in the early minutes, turning an 8-6 lead into a 21-6 advantage at the 10:32 mark. Eckerd (8-11, 1-8 SSC) made it a single-digit game at nine with 5:34 to go (27-18), but NSU made six of their next eight shots (with four 3-pointers and 6-of-6 free throws) on what was a 22-3 spurt, and led by 25 at the break.
Though the Sharks only had one point in the first four minutes of the second half, they began scoring in bunches after that. After two 3-pointers by Eckerd's Amy Buccilla made it 57-36, NSU scored 26 of the game's next 33.
Taylor Buie (So, Puyallup, Wash.) had exactly half of those points, 13, as part of a game-high 18 on the night.
All 10 Sharks that dressed scored at least four points, and the team shot 52.8 percent from the field (28-of-53) while making 12-of-25 3-pointers. After Buie, it was
Jasmine Wilkins (R-Jr., Miami) with 14 points, while
Alexis Murphy (So., Carlisle, Ohio) had 11 off the Shark bench, as that group outscored their Triton counterparts, 34-11.
Balanced scoring continued with eight each from
Richelle Carach (Sr., Naples, Fla.) and
Molly Blomer (So., West Chester, Ohio); six from
Julia Salmio (Sr., Vantaa, Finland); five apiece by the trio of
Jessica Russi (Sr., Lake Mary, Fla.),
Danielle Robinson (Jr., Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) and
Ashley Robinson (Fr., Jensen Beach, Fla.); and four from
Brittany Mesler (Fr., Wellsville, N.Y.).
Buie and Murphy each had three 3-pointers, Blomer added two, and four Sharks had one: Russi, Salmio and both Robinsons. Wilkins' eight rebounds and Danielle Robinson's six helped NSU to a 42-26 rebounding advantage, as each Shark had at least two boards. Of Eckerd's 41 misses, the Sharks gathered 30. Russi had eight assists, and the Sharks had 22, on their 28 made baskets. Eckerd totaled just eight, compared to 14 turnovers.
"We played as a team today," said head coach LeAnn Freeland. "Everyone played a lot and contributed on both ends, and we are excited to continue developing our depth. Every win in this league is significant."
The shorthanded Tritons were led by Buccilla with 16, while Rana Thomas added 11. The team started the game with eight healthy players, and their thin depth was exacerbated throughout the night. Liga Vente and Ivana Grbic both fouled out, and after a late injury to Buccilla, the Tritons were forced to play the last four-plus minutes with just five players. Vente, the team's leading scorer and rebounder coming in, was held to two points and three boards in only 16 minutes of play.
NSU will be back in action for their final nonconference game of the season, this upcoming Saturday, hosting Palm Beach Atlantic. The teams will tip off at the NSU Arena at 2 p.m.
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