MELBOURNE, Fla. – Despite overcoming an 11-point deficit with a 14-0 run in the third quarter, the Nova Southeastern women's basketball fell to the Florida Tech Panthers in the final minute on Saturday afternoon in the Clemente Center.
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
FINAL: L, 58-59
RECORDS: Nova Southeastern University Sharks (7-6, 3-3 SSC) vs. Florida Tech Panthers (5-8, 1-4 SSC)
LOCATION: Clemente Center | Melbourne, Fla.   
FOLLOW US: @NSUSHARKS on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
 
1ST QUARTER | The Panthers quickly jumped out to an 11-3 lead at the 4:55 mark before the Sharks were able to bring the deficit down to six points with a layup by Maria Bardeeva. FIT went up as many as nine points at the 2:15 mark, but a three-pointer by Christen Prasse a minute later once again brought it down to six to close out the quarter with FIT ahead, 17-11.
 
2ND QUARTER | A layup by Jordan Tully opened scoring for both teams in the second, before the Panthers took advantage of a 13-6 run to grab their largest lead of the game, 30-19, at the 4:17 mark. A layup by Taylor Smith sparked an NSU 6-1 run, once again bringing the Panthers down to a six point lead, 31-25, at the end of the frame.
 
3RD QUARTER | Something must have clicked with the Sharks at halftime, as it took just a minute and a half to explode on a 14-0 run, capped with a layup by Tully to put NSU on top 39-33. Another three by Prasse gave the Sharks their largest lead of the game 42-35 with 3:37 on the scoreboard, before the Panthers started to tick away at NSU's advantage. A Florida Tech layup brought the deficit down to one point at the 1:09 mark before a layup by Sarah Kelly pushed it back out to three, 44-41, with one quarter left to go.
 
4TH QUARTER | The fourth quarter was full of ties, seeing six in total, but for the first eight minutes, the Shraks were able to get back on top. A jumper by Alison Hughes at the 1:20 mark was the last time the Sharks held the lead, as a pair of free throws made by FIT's Gracie Doane gave the home team a one point advantage, 55-54. Four consecutive fouls by either team ensued after that, and with six seconds left in regulation and the Panthers ahead 59-56, the Sharks needed a three pointer to force overtime, but a Bardeeva layup was the play, leaving the Sharks one point short for a 59-58 loss.
 
INSIDE THE STATS:
 

• Prasse's 18 points led all players, while she also added a team-high seven rebounds, four assists and two steals.
• Bardeeva followed behind Prasse with her 10 points, while also bringing down four boards with two steals.
• Claire McMahon posted nine points with six rebounds and three assists while Tully had eight points and three rebounds.
• Hughes tallied seven points and three assists while Mikayla Thompson registered four rebounds.

 
 
UP NEXT:
 
The Sharks will return to the friendly confines of the Rick Case Arena this Wednesday evening, Jan. 9, hosting the Eckerd Tritons at 5:30 p.m.
 
 
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Follow along with live updates on Twitter by following @NSU_WBasketball.