FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Nova Southeastern women's basketball team fell in overtime by a score of 63-60 to the Spartans of the University of Tampa during a quarterfinal game of the Sunshine State Conference Tournament on Wednesday evening at the Rick Case Arena.
 
Down by four with less than five minutes remaining in regulation, the Sharks (17-11) capitalized on layups by Amanda Tivenius and Octavia Wilson to grab a two-point lead (51-49) with 53 seconds left on the scoreboard. After a timeout called by Tampa to advance the ball up the court, the Spartans (17-10) were able to use a layup by Faith Sanders to knot the game, 51-51, to force overtime.
 
Up three with 2:37 left in overtime, the Sharks were outscored 8-2 down the final stretch en route to a 63-60 Spartan victory.
 
In the largest crowd the Rick Case Arena has seen all season, the atmosphere was just as lively as the two teams were, who stayed within eight points of each other throughout the entirety of the game. As a whole, NSU outshot the Spartans from the field, 46.6 percent to 44.4 percent, but it was UT's 13-of-15 from the line that was the final dagger in the loss. The Sharks only saw the charity stripe once all evening.
 
Tivenius was the leading scorer for the Sharks, tallying 15 points while adding four rebounds and three assists and two steals. Katie Barnard and Maria Bardeeva joined her in doubles, recording 10 points apiece, while Barnard added eight boards. Octavia Wilson chipped in a game-high five assists.
 
Sanders and Karma Jeremie were Tampa's highest scorers, totaling 23 and 20 points, respectively.
 
The Sharks will learn their postseason fate during Sunday night's NCAA Selection Show, live online at 10 p.m. EST. It will be made available at that time HERE.