FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The No. 21 and top-seeded Nova Southeastern University women's basketball team marches to the semifinal round of the 2016 Sunshine State Conference Basketball Championship, where they will oppose fifth-seed Tampa on Saturday at 5 p.m. in Daytona Beach.
 
The Sharks (23-5) survived an upset-minded Lynn squad Wednesday at home, 80-74, outscoring the Fighting Knights 21-4 and 11-0 to end the game. Tampa pulled off a bit of an upset of their own, over the team seeded just ahead of them, No. 4 Barry (64-55).
 
In the latter matchup, the game was tied after three quarters, but the Spartans too went on a late run, outscoring Barry 15-6 over the final 3:09. Juliana Cavallaro, a First Team All-SSC member for the second year in a row, played all 40 minutes and led all players in scoring with 22.
 
The Sharks, meanwhile, trailed Lynn 70-59 with exactly seven minutes left. Though they reeled off the next 10 points, the Fighting Knights came back with four straight of their own. NSU was down 74-69 with 2:01 remaining, but Lynn wouldn't score again as the Sharks moved on.
 
SSC Player of the Year Kayla Wright (Jr., Lauderhill, Fla.) had 29 points in the win, while SSC Defensive Player of the Year Monaye Merritt (R-Sr., Philadelphia, Pa.) 14 points, six rebounds, nine assists, two steals and a blocked shot. Ida Krogh (R-Sr., Aarhus, Denmark), a selection to the SSC's All-Newcomer Team, had a new NSU career high of 17 points.
 
The Sharks and Spartans have met up each of last two seasons at the SSC Championship, both held at the Silver Spurs Arena in Kissimmee. Two years ago, in the finals, the Sharks won 64-55. Last season, also in a semifinal matchup, NSU advanced by a score of 67-40. NSU is 3-2 against UT in SSC Tournament play, and 4-2 overall in the postseason, adding in a 56-53 win during the 2014 South Regionals.