Box Score 2014-15 Women's NCAA Tournament
Next: South Region Semifinals vs. Rollins - Saturday, March 14, 2015, 6 PM EST
JACKSON, Tenn. – The No. 18 and second-seeded Nova Southeastern University women's basketball team, behind 21 points and 18 rebounds from
Jasmine Wilkins, pushed past Kentucky State in the NCAA South Region quarterfinals, advancing with a 66-56 victory.
Wilkins celebrated her birthday on Friday with a career-best in rebounding, which also made for the second-highest game tally in women's history in the NCAA era. She was 9-of-14 from the field and made 2-of-3 shots from 3-point range.
Three more Sharks (25-5) notched double digits in scoring:
Danielle Robinson (Sr., Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) had 16, including a 3-of-5 mark on 3-pointers and 7-of-8 on free throws; and
Monaye Merritt (R-Jr., Philadelphia) and
Alexis Murphy (Jr., Carlisle, Ohio) each had 11, with Merritt adding four assists and three steals, and Murphy three assists and three 3-pointers.
NSU only led twice in the first half, the second coming at the break with a 29-28 edge over seven-seed Kentucky State (22-6). Midway through the second, at 9:20 to be exact, it was a five-point Shark lead after a Thorobrette layup, 47-42. Wilkins answered with a driving layin of her own, followed by back-to-back 3-pointers by Murphy and Robinson, giving the game its first double-digit spread with under six minutes left.
It would stay at least that for the remainder of the contest, and NSU sealed it with 6-of-9 free throws over the final 2:33. Though Kentucky State would end up shooting a bit higher percentage-wise, 43.1 to 41.2, the Sharks made nine 3-pointers (six in the second half), and 15-of-21 total free throws, while outrebounding the taller Thorobrettes 35-32, 10 of which came on the offensive end.
"Kentucky State gave us a great game, and I am proud of the way our players stayed together and finished," said head coach LeAnn Freeland. "Jasmine had one of the bet games of her career and everyone found inspiration through her determination and production. Even though Jas was phenomenal today, all of our players helped us advance to face Rollins."
The Sharks will now move on to face their Sunshine State Conference rival Rollins in the South Region Semifinals. The Tars, as No. 6 seed, topped third seed Eckerd on Friday, 71-69, and they and the Sharks split their season series, winning on each other's home floor. Tipoff Saturday is 6 p.m. EST from Jackson, with all of the coverage available found at the links at the top of this page.
