JACKSON, Tenn. – The 2015-16 season for the No. 23 Nova Southeastern University women's basketball team, and fourth straight NCAA postseason appearance, came to a close on Saturday in the South Region semifinal round, falling to second-seeded Benedict, 69-57.
 
The Sharks (24-7) fell behind early to the Lady Tigers (29-2), including 13-2 to start start, and could never claw all the way back. In the first quarter, Benedict made 9-of-14 shots and all three 3-pointers and were up 11 (23-12); and at the half, they were still at 75 percent from behind the arc, 6-of-8.
 
A couple of mini-runs by NSU got it to within six, or at the least, five points, but Benedict was able to answer each time. Kayla Wright (Jr., Lauderhill, Fla.) was fed twice for back-to-back baskets to make it 48-42 with 1:24 to go in the third, but the Lady Tigers scored the next three.
 
Early on in the fourth, a three-point play by Taylor Buie (R-Jr., Puyallup, Wash.) again drew the team within six, 51-45 at 8:44. After a Benedict basket, Monaye Merritt (R-Sr., Philadelphia, Pa.) was fouled on a 3-point attempt and canned all three free throws to make it a five-point game, 53-48 with 7:06 to go.
 
The Benedict response this time was in the form of an 8-2 run and a 61-50 lead at 3:52. Once more, the Sharks got it down to six, with all five points from Wright. But from that point (when it was 61-55) to the final horn, the Lady Tigers ended it with another 8-2 stretch and the victory.
 
Wright earned game-high honors with 16 points and also led NSU with eight rebounds. In her final game, Merritt had 15 points and eight assists, while Buie added 10 and Octavia Wilson (Jr., Nicholasville, Ky.) came off the bench with nine.
 
"We played very hard today for 40 minutes, but it wasn't enough to overcome Benedict's hot start," said head coach LeAnn Freeland. "Their first quarter was close to flawless and they were able to maintain the lead from the start. We made some big runs in the second half, but they were able to answer."
 
Also wrapping up their Shark careers were Ida Krogh (R-Sr., Aarhus, Denmark) and the fourth-year duo of Molly Blomer (Sr., West Chester, Ohio) and Alexis Murphy (Sr., Carlisle, Ohio), each of whom advanced to the NCAA Tournament every season with the program.
 
"Our staff is proud of this team and especially our four seniors," said Freeland. "This was a very easy team to coach because they really cared about each other and were very coachable.
 
"As for our seniors, I am proud to say Monaye will be graduating in May with her degree in exercise and sport science; Murphy has an undergraduate degree in psychology and is working towards her Master's; Ida will finish her MBA this summer; and Molly will graduate this fall with her undergraduate degree in software engineering (as the only female in her class). Our seniors were fantastic on and off the court, and they will all be Sharks for life."