Box Score FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Nova Southeastern University women's basketball team welcomed the return of
Jasmine Wilkins to the lineup as she tied her career high of 26 points and led the Sharks to a 82-59 win over Lynn Wednesday night at the NSU Arena.
NSU (17-5, 9-3 SSC) scored the first 10 points of the game, bookended by layups from Wilkins (R-Sr., Miami). Though Lynn (7-14, 1-11 SSC) got 10 straight of their own to knot things up at the 15:30 mark, that immediately spurred the home team to a 20-2 run. The stretch saw Shark guards feed Wilkins three straight times to start and score, and also included assisted successful 3-pointers by
Jessica Valley (R-Jr., Lafayette, Ind.) and
Alexis Murphy (Jr., Carlisle, Ohio).
In fact, NSU tallied an assist on each of their first 11 made shots, and overall, 27 of their 31 field goals. At 8:58, it was 30-12 in favor of NSU, and though Lynn would score five of the next seven points, the 15-point deficit at 8:04 to go in the first half was the closest they get before the break.
"Our point guards controlled the tempo well and got us very organized against their numerous defensive looks," said NSU head coach LeAnn Freeland. "They did a great job getting the ball inside to our posts, who went to work."
The 49 points the Sharks scored in the first half was the most the team has scored in any half all season long, and the 58.6 percent shooting (17-of-29) was the second-best first half percentage and third-best overall half of the year. Lynn was forced into 11 first-half turnovers and NSU outrebounded them at that point 18-8.
Twice in the second half, Lynn cut it to 12, the last at 59-47 with 12:26 remaining. The Sharks responded this time with a 10-1 run and eventually would have as much as a 26-point advantage. The 23-point victory was their biggest of the new year, and gives them second place in the conference all to themselves (ahead of 8-3 Florida Tech, who had a bye Wednesday, and behind only victorious 10-1 Rollins).
Wilkins scored 18 of her 26 points in the first half; at that point she was 8-of-9 from the field and she would finish 12-of-16. She added 10 rebounds for her third double-double of the season.
Murphy set a new career best with five made 3-pointers (in seven attempts) to match her top NSU mark of 15 points. Valley also posted a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds (her fourth of the season), and she, Murphy and
Monaye Merritt (R-Jr., Philadelphia) totalled 18 assists – six for all three – against only five combined turnovers. Also in double figures was
Molly Blomer (Jr., West Chester, Ohio) with 10 points, while
Katie Barnard (R-Fr., Granger, Ind.) was 4-for-6 from the field for a new career high of eight points and also added three rebounds.
"We played as a team on both ends of the floor, and everyone contributed," said Freeland. "The effort and focus was evident while following the game plan well."
Lynn was led by Zachara Bailey with 14 points, with Charla Nelson-James adding 10.
The Sharks return to the NSU Arena for the second of three consecutive home contests, this Saturday against Barry. The Bucs dropped to 11-12 overall and 3-8 in SSC play with a 56-45 loss Wednesday to the aforementioned Rollins Tars. Tipoff from Fort Lauderdale will be at 2 p.m.
