FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – For just the second time this season, the No. 14 Nova Southeastern University women's basketball team fell to a Sunshine State Conference opponent, as a layup with 2.6 seconds left lifted Barry to a 67-65 win Saturday afternoon.
 
Despite the loss, the Sharks (20-4, 12-2 SSC) still clinched at least a share of the SSC regular season title due to Florida Tech's overtime defeat at the hand of Rollins. At worst, the Sharks can only tie with both the Panthers and the idle Florida Southern Mocs.
 
On Saturday, Barry (16-7, 8-5 SSC) overcame a 10-point deficit to NSU late in the third quarter, knotting it up early in the fourth. The Bucs then took the lead for the first time since 7:17 left in the second, on a 3-pointer by Amra Elezovic at 4:49.
 
That started a string of 3-pointers that swapped the lead back and forth. Immediately it was Molly Blomer (Sr., West Chester, Ohio) at 3:51 (59-58 NSU), followed by Elezovic at 2:30 (61-59 BC). Taylor Buie (R-Jr., Puyallup, Wash.) answered with an impossibly long '3,' putting the Sharks up 62-61 at 2:14.
 
Irene Sanchez of Barry came through next with a more conventional basket, a putback layin at the 1:48 mark. Now it was the Sharks' turn to go inside, with Monaye Merritt (R-Sr., Philadelphia, Pa.) driving to the hoop for a tough runner at 1:29. The seventh and final lead change of the quarter came courtesy of the Bucs' Ivana Vuletic, her only basket of the game a short jumper with 1:11 left.
 
After each team had empty possessions, and NSU down one, Merritt drew a foul on an attempted steal by the Bucs. She made the second of two free throws with only 5.7 seconds left to knot things up at 65-65. Elezovic was able to come through after Barry advanced with a timeout, driving unimpeded down the baseline and converting an open layup with just seconds to go.
 
The Sharks too advanced the ball into frontcourt, but the inbounds pass was stolen away to clinch the visitors' victory.
 
Buie was NSU's top scorer, pouring in 18 including four 3-pointers. Merritt made all four of her shots and 8-of-9 free throws for 17, and Blomer also had four 3's towards 14. Kayla Wright (Jr., Lauderhill, Fla.) was held to eight points but had a team-high seven rebounds, while Blomer and Merritt each had five.
 
The Bucs' Elezovic took game honors with 23 points, 12 in the final frame. Ines Kerin added 18.
 
The Sharks go out of conference for their first-ever trip to Daytona Beach this upcoming Wednesday. They'll face SSC provisional member Embry-Riddle at their ICI Center, also the site of next month's SSC Championships. Tipoff is at 5:30 p.m.