Box Score TAMPA, Fla. – The No. 23 Nova Southeastern University women's basketball team pulled out a tough conference victory on the road on Saturday, as
Monaye Merritt's layup with 1.5 seconds left gave them a 55-53 decision over Tampa.
The Sharks (15-4, 7-2 SSC) and Spartans (12-7, 5-4 SSC) played mostly even for the first half, with five ties and six lead changes. It was a two-point Tampa advantage before NSU scored 10 straight points to go up 28-20 with 1:42 to go before the break. However, UT hit two straight 3-pointers to make the halftime score a two-point spread, 28-26 NSU.
Neither team hit an offensive stride for the early portion of the second half, with Tampa hitting one free throw at 17:36 and the Sharks not denting the scoreboard until 15:05 on a
Hayley Martin (Fr., Auburn, Ind.) bucket. It was a seven-point NSU lead on two occasions, each coming as a result of a
Kayla Wright (So., Lauderhill, Fla.) layup as she scored six straight Shark points. Tampa was able to to cut it to three, 40-37, with 9:38 on the clock, but back-to-back 3-pointers by
Jessica Valley (R-Jr., Lafayette, Ind.) and
Alexis Murphy (Jr., Carlisle, Ohio) extended it back out to the biggest NSU advantage of nine (46-37, 7:18).
It wouldn't be a one-possession game until 3:52, and though NSU never lost the lead outright, Tampa did tie the game for the sixth and final time with 48.8 seconds left, 53-53 on two Aisha Rodney free throws. The Sharks turned it over on their next possession, but Tampa did the same after holding the ball until under 10 seconds left. Juliana Cavallaro's attempted drive resulted in a strip and steal by
Jasmine Wilkins (R-Sr., Miami), giving it to the Sharks with 7.9 seconds to go, length of the floor.
Merritt received the inbound, drove it to the right elbow, and when her defender looked away for a split-second, the Shark point guard drove to the basket for a wide-open layin, giving the Sharks the victory. Tampa was not able to get a good look as the horn sounded.
"Our team played well together for 40 minutes, had another great defensive performance and maintained composure to finish a tough game on the road," said head coach LeAnn Freeland. "Another team highlight is that we only had 10 turnovers and followed the game plan to get the ball inside."
Wright, in her first start as a Shark, led all scorers with 18 points on 9-of-13 shooting. Wilkins scored 11 while Murphy and
Danielle Robinson (Sr., Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) each chipped in with seven. Valley had six rebounds and four assists, while Merritt (R-Jr., Philadelphia) and
Molly Blomer (Jr., West Chester, Ohio) each also had four assists.
Tampa was led by Cavallaro with 16 points, 13 coming after the break, while Rodney notched all 12 of her points in the second half, and totaled a team-high seven rebounds. In fact, the duo combined for 25 of the Spartans' 27 points scored in the final 17:36, and all of them in last 14:48.
The Sharks won despite a season-low in points, 55, right at the season average the Spartans give up (55.2). NSU forced 17 Spartan turnovers, winning points-off-turnovers 16-9, and for the third straight game, had a hefty advantage in points-in-the-paint, 38-18.
NSU will look to extend their conference winning streak to five straight when they host Eckerd this Wednesday, Feb. 4. Tipoff from the NSU Arena will be 5:30 p.m.
