MIAMI SHORES, Fla. – The No. 22 Nova Southeastern women's basketball team won their fifth straight contest on Wednesday evening, a 71-46 rout of Barry University in the Health & Sports Center. With the win, the Sharks improve to 6-1 on the overall season and a perfect 3-0 in Sunshine State Conference play while the Buccaneers fall to 2-4 overall and 1-2 against conference opponents.
 
The Sharks were slow to start, as the first quarter saw four lead changes and one tie. A pair of made free throws by SSC Player of the Week Christen Prasse gave the Sharks a 2-0 lead before a three-pointer by Barry's Barbara Cousino gave Barry one of its three leads of the game, 3-2. Both teams shot under 30 percent from the field in the first quarter, which resulted in low scoring as the Sharks held a slim 12-11 lead heading into the second.   
 
NSU's offense ignited in the second, putting up 20 points on 8-of-15 shooting and 4-of-9 from deep to grab a 32-18 advantage before halftime. At 19-16, 10 straight points by Prasse and Amanda Tivenius pushed NSU ahead, 29-16. After a jumper by Barry's Lexy Schoonover, a trey by Octavia Wilson gave the Sharks their largest lead of the half (14) and served as the last bucket for either team before the break. Defensively, the Sharks were a force to be reckoned with as they did not allow a field goal for 6:35 in the second quarter.
 
The Sharks continued to put the pressure on in the third quarter, coming out of the gates on a 5-0 run in the first 1:45. With 2:07 left, Megan Piggott drained a three to push NSU ahead, 47-27, before with 0:13 left on the clock, Wilson made a three of her own to give the Sharks their biggest lead yet, 23 points (50-27), heading into the final frame.
 
At the 9:11 mark in the fourth, Prasse started the scoring with yet another three pointer, before Barry went on a 10-2 run to come within 18 (55-37), which would be the closest it would get for the remainder of the game. The Sharks responded with a 12-2 run of their own, grabbing its largest lead of the game (+28) at 67-39 with 2:32 remaining.
 
For the third game in a row, Prasse topped all Sharks in scoring with 15 points, her fifth double-digit scoring effort of the season, which is a team-best. Prasse also added eight rebounds and a game-high seven assists. Bardeeva and Piggott joined Prasse in double-digit figures, each putting up 11 points apiece. Bardeeva collected six rebounds while Piggott connected on three three-point shots. Logan pulled down a game-high 11 rebounds and almost made it a double-double with nine points scored.
 
NSU's defense wasn't to be outshined, however, as the Sharks held the Bucs to a mere 27.6 percent from the field and their 46 points were the fewest NSU allowed in an SSC matchup since 2013.
 
On the Bucs' side, Barbara Cousino led all scorers with 16 points and had a team-high nine rebounds. Lauren Seyranian also put up double figures, tallying 12 points.
 
The Sharks will continue on the road as they head north to Melbourne, Fla. to take on host Florida Tech on Saturday at 2:00 p.m.