FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Nova Southeastern women's basketball squad's 2018-19 season is ready to tipoff tomorrow evening at the GSC/SSC Crossover Challenge hosted by Barry University in Miami Shores, Fla. Along with NSU and Barry, two teams from the Gulf South Conference, Delta State University and Union University, will be set to square off against regional opponents. The Sharks will face off against Delta State on Friday evening at 7:30 p.m. before taking on No. 4 Union on Saturday at 4:00 p.m.
 
For the second straight season, the Delta State University women's basketball team has been picked to finish seventh in the Gulf South Conference Preseason Poll after finishing 12-15 overall and 10-10 in GSC play. The Lady Statesmen return three players that saw action in 2017-18, including the league's returning leading scorer, Alondrea Rush (15 ppg). DSU also returns its leading rebounder, Raven Johnson (6.8 rpg), along with veteran guard Aliyah Herod and redshirt freshman Kirstin Brown.
 
The Union Bulldogs earned record-high rankings of its NCAA era earlier this month, coming in at No. 4 in the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) and No. 2 in the D2SIDA Media Poll. Union is coming off a season in which the ladies finished 32-4 overall, advancing to the NCAA D2 national semifinals. Union won their first South Region Title last year, their second GSC Tournament Title and fourth GSC Regular Season Title. The Bulldogs lost their top two scorers from last season, including First Team All-American Chelsey Shumpert, but return Jada Perkins and Tiffany Rechis, who saw considerable playing time last season.

Nova Southeastern finished 2017-18 with an overall record of 13-14 and 9-11 against conference opponents. This season, the Sharks return nine and welcome five newcomers, including four NCAA Div. I transfers.  Among the returners are starting guard Alison Hughes, an All-SSC Second Team and All-SSC Newcomer Team honoree, who led the Shark squad with 13.1 points per game, ranking her in the Top-10 in the league. Also returning is Skyla Osceola who posted a 3.33 assist-turnover ratio in 2017-18, which not only led the SSC but ranked her second in the nation.
 
Live stats and video will be available for both games, and can be found on the NSU women's basketball schedule page, HERE.