FORT LAUDERDALE – In the NSU Thanksgiving Classic opener, the Nova Southeastern University women's basketball team (4-1) secured a key regional win over the Valdosta State Blazers (2-2) on Friday afternoon at the NSU Arena.
 
Although NSU came out of the gates a little slow to start the first game of the tournament, the Sharks were able to bounce back after an early first quarter, six point, deficit to secure the win. Christen Prasse led the way with a career-best at NSU, 29 points. For the game she was 10-of-14 from the field, 9-of-14 from the free throw line and added eight rebounds, three assists and one steal.
 
Despite NSU hitting the first couple shots of the game and taking an early lead in the first quarter, Valdosta State managed to bounce back and went on a 21-8 scoring run that started at the 8:53 mark. Down by 12 with 1:02 left in the quarter, the Sharks scored the final six points in the frame to narrow their deficit to six, 25-19.
 
Heading into the second quarter, Valdosta State continued to hold onto the lead, but NSU began to gain momentum and kept things within reach outscoring the Blazers 16-14. Despite outscoring VSU in the second, the Sharks went into the break trailing 39-35.
 
In the second half, it was all Sharks as NSU outscored the Blazers 50-40 over the final two quarters of play. NSU managed to tie the game for the first time 41-41 at the 8:17 mark in the third. After exchanging leads nine times through the end of the period, both teams went into the final quarter tied at 59-59.
 
NSU picked up the early lead in the fourth, which they held through the first five minutes of play. Despite VSU taking a one point lead at the 4:55 mark, Prasse hit a pair of free throws right after that gave the Sharks a 71-70 lead which they held the remainder of the game. The Sharks went on to secure the win by a final of 85-79.
 
In addition to Prasse's 29 points, three other Sharks hit double-digits in scoring. Katie Barnard finished with 16, while Amanda Tivenius and Samantha Logan added 13 and 10 points respectively. Logan also added a team-high nine rebounds, while both she and Tivenius finished with two blocked shots.