FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Nova Southeastern women's basketball team earned its first overtime victory of the 2018-19 season on Saturday evening, downing the host Saint Leo Lions 87-85.
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
FINAL: W, 87-85 (OT)
RECORDS: Nova Southeastern University Sharks (5-3, 2-1 SSC) vs. Saint Leo University Lions (4-4, 1-2 SSC)
LOCATION: Marion Bowman Activities Center | Saint Leo, Fla.   
FOLLOW US: @NSUSHARKS on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
 
1ST QUARTER | Nova Southeastern was the first to score, taking an early 6-0 lead with layups by Maria Bardeeva and Claire McMahon. A three-pointer by SLU's Casey Wortley brought the host team within one, 6-5, but that would be the closest they would get to tying the game all quarter. Despite not scoring a basket for the final 2:23 of the quarter, the Sharks took a three-point edge (19-16) into the second quarter.
 
2ND QUARTER | The Sharks used a 5-0 run to kickstart the second quarter, taking a 24-16 lead at the 8:55 mark. Within a minute, a 6-0 run by the Lions brought them within two (24-22) before a three by Conley and an and-one by Smith pushes the Sharks back out to an eight-point advantage, 30-22. NSU continued to put on the pressure, as a 10-0 run over the next 2:27 gave the Sharks an overwhelming 15-point lead, 40-25. Connecting on seven of their final eight buckets in the second, the Sharks held a 43-32 lead at the break.
 
3RD QUARTER | In their lowest scoring quarter, it took either team almost two full minutes to connect, as Mikayla Thompson split a pair of free throws for a 44-32 edge. From that point, the Lions started whittling away at NSU's lead, coming within three at 49-46 at the 3:07 mark. A layup by Bardeeva at the 1:16 mark brought Nova Southeastern's edge back out to six, 54-48, but with 11 seconds remaining, a three-pointer by SLU's Olivia Lough cut the deficit to just two (56-54) going into the final frame.
 
4TH QUARTER | The Lions took their first lead of the game at the 8:13 mark with a three-pointer by Wortley, before Hughes responded 20 seconds later with a three of her own to put the advantage back on NSU's side. The Sharks continued to hold the edge on their side, until a pair of free throws by SLU's Alani Gallagher with a second left in regulation knotted the game, 73-73, forcing overtime.
 
OVERTIME | Hailey Conley started the scoring for the Sharks with a trey, before back-to-back buckets by the Lions gave them a 79-76 lead. The two teams exchanged leads three times before another three-pointer by Hughes put the Sharks out in front, 83-81. NSU went on to outscore the Lions 4-3, with a layup by Mikayla Thompson sealing the Sharks' 87-85 victory.
 
INSIDE THE STATS:
 

• The Sharks had six players score in double digits, with Taylor Smith leading the way with 16 points. The sophomore was 6-of-8 from the field and 4-of-5 from the line, while also adding three rebounds, three assists and two steals.
• Hughes was next with 14 points, connecting on 4-of-8 from deep. The senior guard also added four rebounds.
• Bardeeva and Thompson each tallied 12 points, while Thompson had a game-high 10 boards. Bardeeva registered five of her own.
• Claire McMahon and Iva Ilic recorded 10 points apiece, with McMahon tallying six rebounds and two blocks.

 
 
UP NEXT:
 
The Sharks will take a week long break before returning back to the court, going away from SSC play to host Drury on Sunday, Dec. 16. Tipoff is set for 2:00 p.m.
 
 
SHARKS ON SOCIAL MEDIA:
 
Follow along with live updates on Twitter by following @NSU_WBasketball.