DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The Nova Southeastern women's basketball team lost their first Sunshine State Conference game of the season on Saturday evening at the ICI Center by a score of 64-55.
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
FINAL: L, 55-64
RECORDS: Nova Southeastern University Sharks (4-3, 1-1 SSC), Embry-Riddle Eagles (6-1, 1-1 SSC)
LOCATION: ICI Center | Daytona Beach, Fla.
FOLLOW US: @NSUSHARKS on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
 
1ST QUARTER | The game started slowly for both teams, with the Sharks holding onto a slim 5-4 lead at the first media timeout halfway through the quarter. Turnovers plagued both teams, as they combined for nine of the quarter's 13 turnovers in the final four minutes, but the Sharks were able to use it to their advantage, with a 7-0 run over the last two minutes for a 12-7 lead, as well as not allowing an Eagles field goal after the 5:51 mark.
 
2ND QUARTER | In the second quarter, Embry-Riddle narrowed the margin to a single point, but the Sharks got the points back until a layup with 3:09 remaining gave the home team their first lead of the game. Katie Barnard converted a threepoint play with a layup and free throw with eight seconds left to retake the lead for the Sharks by a 24-22 score.
 
3RD QUARTER | The Sharks pushed their lead to a game-high seven points with an 8-3 run early in the period, but Embry-Riddle, unfazed, responded with 11 in a row as part of a 20-4 stretch over the last 7:30 of the quarter, taking a nine-point, 45-36 lead into the final frame.
 
4TH QUARTER | The Eagles extended their run with five straight in the first two-plus minutes of the quarter and led by as many as 15 points just after the 6:00 mark. Though the Sharks closed back in with six of the next eight points, they would be unable to get much closer, as the game ended with that same nine-point deficit.
 
INSIDE THE STATS:
 

• Mikayla Thompson recorded the second double-double of her Sharks career, with 12 points, the team's only player in double figures, and tying her career-high of 10 rebounds.
• The Sharks shot just 7.1 perfect (1-of-14) from long distance, their first game this season with less than six made 3-pointers.
• The Sharks turned the ball 19 times, with 13 of those due to Embry-Riddle steals. The Eagles, meanwhile, committed 14 turnovers, but the Sharks were able to collect just three steals.
• The Sharks brought down 12 offensive rebounds, compared to seven by the Eagles, and out-scored their opponent 11-6 on second-chance points.
• The Sharks also held a 26-9 advantage in bench points, including a 7-1 first-quarter edge and 11-0 in the final period.

 
 
UP NEXT:
 
The Sharks will have a week to regroup before returning to road action next Saturday when they travel north to face the Saint Leo Lions for a 5:30 p.m. scheduled tip-off.
 
 
SHARKS ON SOCIAL MEDIA:
 
Follow along with live updates on Twitter by following @NSU_WBasketball.