Box Score BOCA RATON, Fla. – The No. 11 Nova Southeastern University women's basketball team picked up their fifth straight win, defeating Lynn on the road Wednesday night at the de Hoernle Center, 78-74.
The Sharks (10-2, 2-1 SSC) and Fighting Knights (5-6, 0-3 SSC) were tied at the half after a long
Jasmine Wilkins (R-Sr., Miami) jumper right at the horn. Wilkins had scored the team's first seven points as the Sharks built an early 12-3 advantage. They were up 27-16 before Lynn scored 12 straight to take their first lead, 28-27 at the 3:57 mark, and the 37-37 halftime tie was the fourth of the first half.
NSU started quick in the second frame, including a 17-2 stretch to make it a 56-41 lead with 12:21 to go.
Kayla Wright (So., Lauderhill, Fla.) scored eight straight points (on four baskets in a span of 1:42) in the midst of the run. The Sharks were up 17 with 9:51 remaining, but Lynn fought back with a 9-0 run to drop the deficit back into single digits, 65-57 at 8:03.
The visitors still led by 10 with 4:47 left, but Lynn scored seven in a row to make it a one-possession game at the 1:14 mark, 72-69. The ensuing Shark possession saw
Alexis Murphy (Jr., Carlisle, Ohio) hit a clutch runner in the lane, off the glass, with 45.4 seconds left. Then, after a Lynn turnover, Wilkins hit a layin underneath for a seemingly comfortable seven-point cushion at 23.5.
Lynn, however, would hit an old-fashioned three-point play, and after two missed Shark free throws, get an uncontested layup with 6.4 seconds left, making it a two-point game, 76-74. The next trip to the charity stripe proved fruitful with
Danielle Robinson (Sr., Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) making both and clinching a four-point victory.
"It was a tough game, and Lynn battled back after out two big runs to make it close at the finish," said head coach LeAnn Freeland. "We have to be smarter and handle big leads with maturity. Every team in this league is too good to allow ourselves to get complacent. We must not get comfortable with any lead against any team."
Wilkins had a double-double, leading all players in both categories with 19 points and 10 rebounds. She was 8-of-11 from the field and added two blocked shots. Robinson had 13 of her 16 points after the break and nine total rebounds, with
Monaye Merritt (R-Jr., Philadelphia) and Wright adding 14 and 12 points, respectively. Merritt had five steals and Wright made her last five shots from the field to go 6-of-10 overall in the game. Each scored 10 points in the second half.
Lynn was led by Sharneka McCatty's 15 points and seven rebounds. Shay Harris added 13 points off the bench.
The Sharks return to the NSU Arena for their first home game since Dec. 20 when they take on Florida Southern this Saturday at 2:30 p.m.
