FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Despite a strong final period, the previous two quarters doomed the Nova Southeastern University women's basketball team (9-6, 5-2 SSC), as they fell to the Florida Southern Moccasins (10-4, 6-1 SSC) on Saturday afternoon at the NSU Arena, by a score of 70-63.

Both teams started the game hot on the floor, with a 24-23 lead for the Sharks after the first ten minutes, led by 11 points from Megan Piggott. They shot nearly 64% from the field and made nine free throws, while the Mocs hit on 50% of their field goals with five points at the line.

Florida Southern started to build their lead in the second quarter, doubling up the Sharks 18-9. It was this quarter when turnovers began to pile up for NSU, as they committed six, compared to the Moccasins' zero. For the half, the Sharks totaled 12 turnovers and the Mocs just three. Florida Southern pushed their lead into double digits twice before a layup by Samantha Logan with two seconds on the clock brought the game to its 41-33 halftime score.

A three-pointer by Piggott on the second half's first play got the deficit to just five points, but that was as close as they would get in the third quarter, entering the final frame facing a 12-point margin of 58-46.

Four Moccasin points started the final period, for their game-high 16-point lead, but the Sharks responded with a furious 12-0 run, holding Florida Southern scoreless for over four minutes and without a field goal for nearly six. Logan started the comeback attempt with back-to-back three-pointers, followed by back-to-back Amanda Tivenius layups and one by Maria Bardeeva, to make it a four-point game at 62-58. After the Mocs went 2-of-2 at the line, Tivenius made another layup and the Sharks seemed to be in a good position to get even closer after a defensive stop, but Tivenius was called for a controversial offensive foul. With the ball back in their hands, Florida Southern hit their first 3-pointer of the game, and only their third attempt, with a foul on the play giving them a rare four-point play.

Bardeeva, who came off the bench, and Piggott shared in a team-leading 15 points each; for Bardeeva, it marked a new career-high on a perfect 6-of-6 from the field and 3-of-3 at the line. They were joined by Tivenius, who was also 6-of-6 from the field, and Logan, who was a rebound short of a double-double.

The Sharks will welcome the Rollins Tars to the NSU Arena on Wednesday, Jan. 11. For complete coverage, visit NSUSharks.com.