FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Nova Southeastern women's basketball program will get its first shot at home in the "Shark Tank" at Rick Case Arena on Thursday, squaring off with Montevallo out of Alabama. The Sharks enter the week with a 1-1 record coming out of the GSC/SSC Crossover Challenge in Miami Shores.

Going head-to-head with a South Region foe in their home opener, the Sharks face a Falcons team looking to rebound after five consecutive sub-.500 seasons. Entering their third season under Gary Van Atta, UM turned in a promising start on opening weekend with a 2-0 record as hosts of the GSC/SIAC Challenge.

Sophomore Nautika Philpot has upped her 9.2 ppg average from her rookie year to a team-high 20.5 ppg through the first two contests, leading all starters with a 57.1 percent shooting average. She's also dished out nine assists through the start of the season. At 6-2, forward Savannah Lee started 1-of-2 over the weekend and put up 19 points against Spring Hill. Sophomore forward Kourtnie Smith put up a double-double in both contests, averaging 10.5 ppg and 11 rpg so far.

The Falcons hit the glass hard in the opening weekend, ranking 15th nationally with a 51.5 rpg average, also coming to Rick Case Arena with a 23rd-ranked 13.0 steals per contest and a 44th-ranked offense at 79 ppg.

Although the Sharks head into Thursday at 1-1, they met heady competition from the Gulf South Conference head on. The Sharks mounted a 27-10 fourth quarter run to down Delta State before battling No. 4 Union to a halftime tie and a 10-point final margin – against a Lady Bulldogs squad that won the South Region last year and advance to the Final Four.

Unsurprisingly, 2017-18 All-Sunshine State Conference second teamer Alison Hughes made a big impact in the opening games. The senior guard posted a team-high 18.5 ppg, knocking down nine threes with 59.1 percent shooting from the field. Sophomore guard Hailey Conley got in on the action as well, racking up 20 points against Delta State and nine more against Union. Meanwhile, junior guard Esabelle Levine proved to be a dual-threat, pacing the team with a 5.0 rpg average while chipping in 9.5 ppg.

The Sharks made their early impressions from long range, hitting an NCAA 25th-best 9.5 threes per contest on a 40th-ranked 38.8 percent, also showing up strong at the line with a 19th-ranked 81 percent from the team.

Tipoff between the Sharks and Falcons is slated for 5:30 p.m. at Rick Case Arena. The game will be streamed live on the SSC Digital Network and live stats can be found HERE. Check in at the NSU Athletics Marketing Kiosk for some big contests on Thursday night. Winner of the halftime musical chairs contest will win $100 on their Shark Card, eight tickets to the Nova Southeastern Sponsored Riptide Music Festival (Nov. 30-Dec. 2 on Fort Lauderdale Beach) will be raffled off throughout the game.