FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The No. 23 Nova Southeastern University women's basketball team defeated the Delta State Lady Statesmen by a final of 64-44 on the first day of the NSU Tipoff Classic, to start their 2016-17 campaign on Friday night at the NSU Arena.
The Sharks (1-0) opened the first quarter missing their first nine field goals, but a
Christen Prasse three-pointer finally ended the slump with 1:38 remaining. The Sharks ended the quarter by making their last three field goals to take a 10-7 lead. Delta State wouldn't quite go away, taking a 20-19 lead into halftime. NSU shot just 24.0 percent from the field in the first half.
Both offenses woke up during halftime, as the Sharks more than doubled their point total for the game in the third quarter, while the Lady Statesmen nearly did the same. The Sharks scored 22 points in the period, led by eight from
Taylor Buie. Delta State shot 7-of-9 from the field and 4-of-6 at the line for 18 total points, making it a one-possession lead for the Sharks at 41-38 going into the final ten minutes of play.
The fourth quarter was when the Sharks put some separation between them and their opponents, starting the frame on a 9-2 run for the game's first double-digit lead and keeping it in double-digit territory for the last five minutes of the game. NSU got six points in the game's last period from both Prasse and
Samantha Logan, while hitting 60 percent from the field and holding Delta State to just 17.
Overall, the Sharks shot 39.3 percent from the field and were slightly out-rebounded, 33-32, but won the turnover battle forcing 23 by Delta State and losing just 11 of their own.
Prasse led the Sharks with 13 points on 6-of-14 field goal shooting, seven rebounds and five steals, while
Amanda Tivenius led the team with three assists and their only block of the game. Prasse was joined in double figures by
Cheray Saunders and Buie, who each added 11 points, while Saunders contributed six rebounds and three steals in her freshman debut.
Samantha Logan, also playing in her first game as a Shark, recorded eight points, five rebounds and two steals.
The Lady Statesmen were led by Aspriona Gilbert in points (12), Kaelin Kneeland in rebounds (10) and blocks (2) and Toya Collins in assists (3).
The NSU Tip-Off Classic will conclude tomorrow with Delta State taking on the Barry at 2 p.m. on Saturday and the Sharks host Union Bulldogs at 4 p.m. Union defeated Barry 98-64 in Friday's first game.
