FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Nova Southeastern University women's basketball team plundered the Barry Buccaneers at the Rick Case Arena on Saturday afternoon for a 63-55 win to begin the second half of Sunshine State Conference play. The Sharks improve to 11-7 overall and 7-3 in the SSC, while the Bucs extend their losing streak to nine straight, falling to 2-8 in conference and 4-14 overall.

After four scoreless minutes to start the game, during which time the team's combined to miss 11 field goal attempts, the Bucs quickly found their shot, reeling off eight points in a row and later building an eight-point lead at 12-4 with just over three minutes remaining. The opening frame ended with a 14-9 Barry advantage, with the Buccaneers outscoring the Sharks 6-0 off turnovers.

The Sharks seized control early in the second quarter, taking their first lead of the period just 2:30 in. While the offense poured in 25 points on nine field goals and four three-pointers, the defense held the Bucs just seven points. The Sharks ended the half on an 11-0 run to take a 34-21 lead into the break.

In the third quarter, both teams were led by individual dominating performances. For the Sharks, that player was Amanda Tivenius, who shot a perfect 4-of-4 from the field and 2-for-2 at the line, totaling 10 points in the frame to give her 14 heading into the fourth, which already marked a career-high.

The Bucs, on the other hand, got nine points out of Melanie Jordan, who didn't score at all in the first half in four minutes of action. The lack of play didn't seem to affect her, though, as she made all three of her third-quarter field goal attempts, including a pair of three-pointers, along with a free throw.

The Sharks built their lead up to a game-high 16 points on their first possession, following a Tivenius old-fashioned three-point play. Barry then exploded a 16-5 run, getting as close as five points, before the Sharks woke up again to end the period on an 8-2 run of their run, and getting their lead back into double digits entering the final frame.

The Buccaneers refused to go away, though, scoring 14 of the fourth quarter's first 17 points and actually tying the game at 53-apiece with 3:47 left to go in the game. Again, the Sharks woke up, as Cheray Saunders and Octavia Wilson hit back-to-back threes to kick off 10-consecutive Sharks points to secure the victory.

Wilson led the team with 17 points on 6-of-15 field goal shooting and 4-of-12 from beyond the arc. Meanwhile, Tivenius finished with a career-high 16, making seven of her nine attempts from the field, also leading the team with nine rebounds. They were joined in double figures by Maria Bardeeva's 10 and Saunders, who dropped in 11 coming off the bench.

The Bucs were led by Melanie Jordan's 20 points, all of which came in just 16 second-half minutes. She took 10 shots in the game, making all 10 of them; She was 6-for-6 from the field, including four 3-pointers, and 4-of-4 at the charity stripe. She was joined in double digits by teammates Lexy Schoonover's 13 points and Kiara Palmer's double-double of 10 points, despite just 3 field goals on 14 attempts, and 15 rebounds, of which 10 were on the offensive end.

The Sharks will stay home for their next game, hosting the Tampa Spartans on Wednesday, January 25. For complete coverage, visit NSUSharks.com.