JACKSON, Tenn. – In its kickoff game of the 2017-18 season, the Nova Southeastern women's basketball team defeated the Lady Statesmen of Delta State University, 57-53.
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
FINAL: W, 57-53
RECORDS: Nova Southeastern Sharks (1-0), Delta State Lady Statesmen (0-1)
LOCATION: Fred DeLay Gymnasium | Jackson, Tenn.
FOLLOW US: @NSUSHARKS on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
 
1ST QUARTER | Delta State was hot out of the gates in the first quarter, taking a 12-3 lead with a layup by Takisha Jordan. The Sharks were able to respond with a seven-point run, capped with a free throw by Natalia Leaks, to come within two, 12-10, but back-to-back layups pushed the Lady Statemen back out in front by six, 16-10, to end the first quarter.
 
2ND QUARTER | DSU continued to build on its lead early in the second in the second, grabbing its largest lead, 25-14, at the 2:29 mark with a layup by Alondrea Rush. Four points by Alison Hughes and a bucket by Kayla Wright dropped the deficit to seven points, 27-20, heading into the halftime break.
 
3RD QUARTER | The break was all the Sharks needed to bring the momentum on their side, tallying seven unanswered points to knot the game, 27-27, at the 8:54 mark and force Delta State to call a timeout. A layup by DSU's Jordan gave the Lady Statesmen a 29-27 edge almost 40 seconds later, and served as its last lead of the game. Another layup by Wright with 6:56 on the clock pushed the Sharks back out in front, 31-29, as NSU went on to outscore DSU 14-7 the rest of the quarter, taking a nine-point lead, 45-36, going into the final frame.
 
4TH QUARTER | Seven consecutive points by Delta State cut the deficit to three points, 45-42, at the 7:19 mark, but the Sharks held the lead and jumped out to a six-point edge, 50-44, with a three pointer by Hughes with 4:50 remaining. In the final two minutes of the game, DSU put up five unanswered points to come within one, 52-51, but pairs of good free throws by Skyla Osceola and Cheray Saunders helped give the Sharks some cushion as NSU went on to win, 57-53.
 
INSIDE THE STATS: 

• Wright led all players with 18 points on 7-of-13 shooting from the field, just one rebound short of a double-double with nine rebounds.
• Hughes was second on the team in scoring, recording 11 points, while bringing down three boards and making two steals.
• Both Saunders and Megan Piggott had seven rebounds, while Saunders added six points and three assists.
• The Sharks outshot the Lady Statesmen from the field, 43.2 percent to 35.1 percent.
• NSU also out-rebounded DSU, 37-26.
• Nova Southeastern's strongest quarter of the night was the third, where the Sharks outscored DSU 25-9 to steal the lead.

 
BEYOND THE BOXSCORE: 

• This is the third straight year the Sharks have won their first game, including back-to-back season opener wins over Delta State.
• Wright played only 26 minutes, enough to lead all players in scoring and in rebounds.

 
UP NEXT
 
The Sharks will continue play in the GSC/SSC Crossover Classic tomorrow, Saturday, Nov. 11, competing against the host Union Bulldogs at 5:00 p.m. (EST).
 
SHARKS ON SOCIAL MEDIA:
 
Follow along with live updates on Twitter by following @NSU_WBasketball.