MELBOURNE, Fla. – The No. 22 Nova Southeastern Women's basketball team suffered its first Sunshine State Conference loss in a 57-46 defeat to the Florida Tech Panthers at the Clemente Center on Saturday afternoon. The loss snaps the Sharks' five-game winning streak as they drop to 6-2 overall (3-1 SSC) while Florida Tech improves to 6-2 and 2-2 against the SSC.
 
The first quarter was in favor of the Sharks as they scored a few clutch three's from Megan Piggott and Samantha Logan to build a 17-10 lead. However, a strong second quarter from the Panthers took any momentum the Sharks had. A bucket from Christen Prasse would cut the lead to 25-23 just before halftime but that the lowest deficit the Sharks saw for the rest of the game.
 
The Panthers started the third quarter strong and never looked back. The Sharks cut the lead to as little to 46-40 with a few steals and layups by Cheray Saunders, but turnovers on three-straight possessions and buckets for the Panthers would extinguish any flame the Sharks had.   
 
Saunders led the way for Sharks with 10 points while Prasse and  Logan contributed nine and eight points, respectively. Logan also recorded seven rebounds. and Katie Barnard each scored seven points.
 
The Panthers had two in double digits with Shequana Harris and Markeema Crawford with 18 and 11 points. Despite committing more turnovers, the Panthers out rebounded the Sharks 37-27.
 
The Sharks will return to the NSU Arena on Dec. 10 to take on the Lynn Fighting Knights at 2:00 p.m.