FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Sunshine State Conference Tournament-winning Nova Southeastern women's basketball team opens up NCAA Tournament play on Friday evening, taking on the Benedict Lady Tigers, champions of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, with game time at 5 p.m. in the South Region opening round, held at the NSU Arena.
For the second straight season, the Sharks (25-4) are the No. 1 seed and the host of the region. The NSU Arena plays host to the first and second rounds, leading to the South Region Championship this upcoming Monday, March 17. In all, there will be seven games played at the arena over the course of four days.
It will be the second meeting between the two teams on this floor, after Benedict (20-9) came to Fort Lauderdale in Mid-December for the Shark Invitational. In that game, NSU broke out to leads of 12-0 and 22-4, and was up 35-12 at the break. The second half was much of the same, beginning with a 10-4 run, and later a 16-1 spurt, and the Sharks won by a final margin of 39 at 79-40.
Richelle Carach (Sr., Naples, Fla.) set a new career high with 22 points on 10-of-13 shooting in the win.
Taylor Buie (So., Puyallup, Wash.) added 20.
This past week, NSU topped Eckerd, No. 16 Rollins and No. 17 Tampa to take home the SSC title. Buie was chosen as tournament MVP, averaging 17.3 points and making 11-of-23 3-pointers in the three wins.
Amanda Burakoski (Sr., Brooklyn, N.Y.) and
Danielle Robinson (Jr., Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) garnered All-Tournament nods as well. Burakoski averaged 14.0 points and 8.0 rebounds in the three games, including a career-best 14 boards against Rollins. Robinson was at 11.7 points and 5.3 rebounds, and the two combined to make 15 '3's.
In Birmingham, Ala., the Lady Tigers swept through the SIAC Tournament, last defeating fellow South Region choice Albany State in overtime, 67-64. Latoya Fairley was named tourney MVP, with double-doubles in both the semifinals and championship. Santera Grooms had 10 of her team-high 18 in overtime of the finals' win.
Live audio and video streaming of each game will be available
HERE, and specifically for this NSU and Benedict game
HERE. Live stats will be at
this link for every game during the regional.
The winner of this 5 p.m. game will move on to the South Region semifinals on Saturday, to play the winner of No. 4 seed Delta State and No. 5 Albany State. The entire list of games is as follows:
First Round – Friday, March 14
Game One – 12:00 p.m. – No. 3 Rollins (24-6, SSC At-Large) vs. No. 6 Saint Leo (20-9, SSC At-Large)
Game Two – 2:30 p.m. – No. 2 Tampa (22-6, SSC At-Large) vs. No. 7 West Florida (19-10, GSC Champions)
Game Three – 5:00 p.m. –
No. 1 Nova Southeastern (25-4, SSC Champions) vs. No. 8 Benedict (20-9, SIAC Champions)
Game Four – 7:30 p.m. – No. 4 Delta State (24-5, GSC At-Large) vs. No. 5 Albany State (20-6, SIAC At-Large)
Second Round – Saturday, March 15
Game Five – 5:00 p.m. – Winner of Game One vs. Winner of Game Two
Game Six – 7:30 p.m. – Winner of Game Three vs. Winner of Game Four
South Region Championship – Monday, March 17
Game Seven – 7:00 p.m. – Winners of Second Round Games
Here is a capsule of all of the South Region teams:
No. 1 NSU, 25-4, SSC Champions
Ranked No. 10 in the final regular season USA Today Coaches' Poll
Head Coach – LeAnn Freeland
Postseason Honorees: Buie (Daktronics All-South Region Second Team, All-SSC Second Team, SSC Tournament MVP);
Jasmine Wilkins (R-Jr., Miami) (All-SSC Second Team), Burakoski (SSC All-Tournament Team), Robinson (SSC All-Tournament Team)
Qualified Stat Leaders: Points – Buie, 15.3; Rebounds – Wilkins, 7.2; Assists –
Jessica Russi (Sr., Lake Mary, Fla.), 8.2; FG% – Wilkins, 59.8; FT% – Buie, 82.6; 3pt% – Buie, 44.7
Top NCAA Stat Rankings: Individual – Russi (1st in Assists), Wilkins (6th in FG%), Buie (9th in 3pt% and 13th in 3-pointers made); Team – Assists (2nd, 19.1), 3-pointers made (3rd, 9.2), Field goal percentage (6th, 46.8), Scoring offense (11th, 80.7 points), Scoring margin (11th, +15.0 points), 3-point percentage (20th, 36.8%)
No. 2 Tampa Spartans, 22-6, SSC At-Large
Ranked No. 17 in the final regular season USA Today Coaches' Poll
Head Coach – Tom Jessee (SSC Coach of the Year)
Postseason Honorees: Ellen Nurmi (SSC Newcomer of the Year, All-SSC Second Team, All-Newcomer Team), Illyssa Vivo (All-SSC First Team, SSC All-Tournament Team), Shamika Williams (All-SSC Second Team), Taylor McVey (All-Newcomer Team), Aisha Rodney (SSC All-Tournament Team)
Qualified Stat Leaders: Points – Nurmi, 11.5; Rebounds – McVey, 7.1; Assists – Vivo, 3.3; FG% – McVey, 50.6; FT% – Keke Jones, 83.3; 3pt% – Juliana Cavallaro, 41.4
Top NCAA Stat Rankings: Individual – Vivo (61st in Assist/Turnover Ratio), Nurmi (161st in 3-pointers made), Vivo (168th in Assists); Team – Scoring defense (6th, 56.8 points), Turnovers (19th, 13.6), Scoring margin (22nd, +11.5 points)
No. 3 Rollins Tars, 24-6, SSC At-Large
Ranked No. 16 in the final regular season USA Today Coaches' Poll
Head Coach – Glenn Wilkes, Jr.
Postseason Honorees: Emmalee Schill (SSC Defensive Player of the Year), Tanaya Jones (SSC Freshman of the Year, All-Newcomer Team), Sarah Taylor (All-SSC First Team)
Qualified Stat Leaders: Points – Taylor, 13.2; Rebounds – Sarah Blackburn, 8.3; Assists – Jones, 3.1; FG% – Ashley Losch, 43.9; FT% – Taylor, 78.3; 3pt% – Schill, 43.1
Top NCAA Stat Rankings: Individual – Jones (23rd in Steals), Schill (63rd in Blocked shots), Blackburn (107th in Rebounds); Team – Field goal percentage defense (3rd, 34.1%), Scoring defense (9th, 58.3 points), Blocked shots (18th, 4.7)
No. 4 Delta State Lady Statesmen, 24-5, GSC At-Large
Ranked No. 15 in the final regular season USA Today Coaches' Poll
Head Coach – David Midlick
Postseason Honorees: Seneca Walton (Daktronics South Region Player of Year, Daktronics All-South Region First Team, GSC Player of the Year. All-GSC First Team, GSC All-Tournament Team), Chelsey Rhodes (All-GSC First Team, GSC All-Tournament Team)
Qualified Stat Leaders: Points – Walton, 14.1; Rebounds – Walton, 9.5; Assists – Shanae Govan, 4.2; FG% – Walton, 51.3; FT% – Rhodes, 81.1; 3pt% – Rhodes, 32.6
Top NCAA Stat Rankings: Individual – Walton (17th in Double-Doubles), Govan (27th in Steals), Walton (46th in both FG% and Rebounding); Team – Field goal percentage defense (3rd, 34.1%), Scoring defense (9th, 58.3 points), Blocked shots (18th, 4.7)
No. 5 Albany State Lady Rams, 20-6, SIAC At-Large
Received votes in the final regular season USA Today Coaches' Poll
Head Coach – Robert Skinner (SIAC Coach of the Year)
Postseason Honorees: Artisha Holston (Daktronics All-South Region Second Team, SIAC Defensive Player of the Year, SIAC Freshman of the Year, All-Conference, SIAC All-Tournament Team), Keidra Green (SIAC Newcomer of the Year), Kourtney Alexander (All-Conference), Kedeemya Cooper (All-Academic)
Qualified Stat Leaders: Points – Holston, 13.8; Rebounds – Holston, 9.8; Assists – Mecca Frost, 4.9; FG% – Holston, 53.2; FT% – Alexander, 75.6; 3pt% – Alexander, 32.8
Top NCAA Stat Rankings: Individual – Frost (25th in Assists), Holston (34th in FG%), Holston (42nd in Rebounds); Team – 3-point field goal defense (3rd, 24.3%), Field goal percentage defense (4th, 34.6%), Scoring defense (8th, 58.3 points)
No. 6 Saint Leo Lions, 20-9, SSC At-Large
Head Coach – Nikki Jessee
Postseason Honorees: Teresa Manigrasso (Daktronics All-South Region First Team, All-SSC First Team), Chelsea Williams (All-SSC Second Team), Chachi Guzman (All-Newcomer Team, SSC All-Tournament Team)
Qualified Stat Leaders: Points – Manigrasso, 16.3; Rebounds – Chelsea Connelly, 8.8; Assists – Guzman, 5.6; FG% – Williams, 57.4; FT% – Manigrasso, 86.3; 3pt% – Manigrasso, 38.3
Top NCAA Stat Rankings: Individual – Guzman (8th in Assists), Manigrasso (34th in FT%), Guzman (56th in FT%); Team – Assists (12th, 17.3), Rebound margin (16th, +7.1), Field goal percentage (39th, 43.7%)
No. 7 West Florida Argonauts, 19-10, GSC Champions
Head Coach – Stephanie Lawrence Yelton (GSC Coach of the Year)
Postseason Honorees: Katie Bobos (GSC Freshman of the Year, GSC All-Tournament Team), Tessah Holt (All-GSC First Team, GSC Tournament Most Outstanding Player), Toynetta Johnson (All-GSC Second Team, GSC All-Tournament Team)
Qualified Stat Leaders: Points – Holt, 12.3; Rebounds – Bobos, 6.6; Assists – Johnson, 4.2; FG% – Jenny Menz, 46.6; FT% – Holt, 80.9; 3pt% – Holt, 41.1
Top NCAA Stat Rankings: Individual – Holt (32nd in Steals), Johnson (58th in Steals), Raquel Miller (61st in Blocked shots); Team – Turnover margin (17th, 4.38), Scoring defense (24th, 60.1 points), Turnovers (34th, 14.1)
No. 8 Benedict Lady Tigers, 20-9, SIAC Champions
Head Coach – James Rice
Postseason Honorees: Grooms (All-Conference, SIAC All-Tournament Team), Fairley (SIAC Tournament MVP); Amanda Toliver (SIAC All-Tournament Team)
Qualified Stat Leaders: Points – Grooms, 11.2; Rebounds – Grooms, 7.7; Assists – Toliver, 3.8; FG% – Fairley, 54.6; FT% –Toliver, 83.8; 3pt% – Jasmine Stubbs, 29.5
Top NCAA Stat Rankings: Individual – Toliver (69th in FT%), Stubbs (129th in 3-pointers made), Toliver (134th in Assists); Team – Field goal percentage defense (1st, 33.4%), Rebound margin (2nd, +11.6), Scoring defense (5th, 56.7 points), 3-point field goal defense (8th, 25.1%)
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