SAINT LEO, Fla. – Sarah Kelly's putback with 0.7 seconds to play gave the Sharks its first SSC victory of the season, 70-67, at the Marion Bowman Activities Center on Saturday night. NSU trailed all the way up until the 5:47 mark of the third quarter, before a 15-0 run and a 28-15 third period paved the way to a gritty Shark victory. 

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:

SCORE: W, 70-67
RECORDS: Nova Southeastern University Sharks (3-4, 1-1 SSC), Saint Leo Lions (4-5, 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 | Saint Leo opened up the game on a 10-1 run, capitalizing for six points off three turnovers in the first 2:40 of play. Following a technical foul by Saint Leo, the momentum began to turn as Skyla Osceola and Claire McMahon both had perfect trips at the line to cut it to a five point game at the 5:36 mark. A jumper with 2:54 to play by McMahon cemented the first field goal in the quarter after the Sharks started just 1-of-10. Following a layup by Jordan Tully to cut the score to 12-9, a three by Saint Leo put them ahead 15-9 after one quarter. Both teams combined for 16 turnovers in the first, while the Sharks were just 16 percent from the floor.

2ND QUARTER | After both teams had an even 6-6 start to the second, a three by Osceola cut the deficit to just three points at 21-18 with 3:46 to play. However, the Lady Lions would respond with a mini 4-0 run to put them back ahead by seven. After Maria Bardeeva finished a layup under the basket, Saint Leo would hold the Sharks without a point for 2:26 before Iva Ilic drove and finished with the left hand trimming the lead to five, 27-22 at the half. Overall, the Sharks shot 33 percent in the second period, outscoring the Lady Lions 13-12. 

3RD QUARTER | The tide would turn to NSU's favor in the third as the Sharks got off to a good start when McMahon forced a turnover and pushed the floor before getting fouled and knocking down both attempts at the stripe. After quiet first half by Tully, she responded with four straight points followed by an Osceola a three with 7:12 to play, making it a one possession game at 33-30. Another NSU run was sparked once again by a technical foul and the Sharks took full advantage as Osceola split the pair and on the ensuing possession Esabelle Levine drew the foul and then hit both opportunities at the line to tie it up at 33-33. NSU would hit its next four shots as a three-pointer by Levine would cap off a 15-0 run by the Sharks, leading it 40-33, at the 4:12 mark. McMahon would later nail an open three, and Tully converted the and-one to push the lead to double digits, a game-high 10 point lead at 48-38. NSU would then hold Saint Leo without a field goal for 3:32, as their stifling defense held the Lady Lions to just 2 of their last 14 field goals to end the period. The Sharks would outscore the Lady Lions 28-15 in the third, taking a 50-42 lead into the fourth.

4TH QUARTER | Saint Leo would broke out to a 13-5 run to start the fourth,  tying the game up at 55-55, with 5:27 to play. Following the media timeout, the Sharks regrouped mounting a 6-0 run beginning with Tully's right handed hook to retake the lead. Saint Leo would make it a one possession game as a corner three put the score 63-60, with 2:10 to play. With 0:44 remaining in the game, the Sharks were clinging onto a one point lead, 65-64, when McMahon was knocked to the floor on an illegal screen, following it up with two big shots from the stripe to give the Sharks a three point lead. Saint Leo would tie the game up on a deep three with 0:29 to play, setting up one last shot for NSU after calling a timeout with five seconds remaining on the clock and a 67-67 game. After the initial inbound play was missed, the rebound was quickly followed up by Sarah Kelly who's putback off the glass drew the foul and put the Sharks up three, with 0.7 seconds to play. The Lady Lions did attempt a desperation three in the final second but it was well defended on the close out by Osceola, securing the victory for NSU.

"Offensively in the first half we were a little flat, but we did an excellent job defensively to keep us in the game at the half," said head coach LeAnn Freeland-Curry. "Our players found a new level in the third quarter offensively as the ball started to move and we found more of a flow. More than anything our staff was proud of our efforts on the boards."

INSIDE THE STATS:

• Tully once again led the Sharks offensively, finishing with 21 points, while shooting 8-of-12 from the floor and 5-of-7 from the line. The Canadian scored 19 of her 21 points in the second half, including nine in the final frame. 
• McMahon nearly notched her second double-double of the season, tallying 17 points (6-6 FT) with a team-high eight rebounds. The reigning SSC Defensive Player of the Week continued her strong play on the backend with seven defensive rebounds, a team-high three steals and a block.
• Osceola recorded a team-high plus eight in her 25 minutes of action, as the Sophomore had an efficient 11 points on 3-of-4 from the field and 2-of-3 from downtown. The Hollywood native also chipped in with three rebounds and a team-high four assists in her fourth outing of the season.
• Levine, Tully and McMahon were a combined 16-of-19 at the line, as the Sharks finished 20-of-24, 83 percent overall as a team. NSU was plus seven at the charity stripe, outscoring Saint Leo 20-13 and ended up being one of the critical ways NSU kept an early deficit at par.
• NSU shot just 25 percent in the first half, but responded with a 64 percent second half, highlighted by a 69 percent third quarter in which the Sharks shot 9-of-13 from the field and 7-of-9 from the free throw line.
• The Sharks out rebounded the Lady Lions, 37-27 (10 offensive boards), including a 16-9 margin in the second half of play. 
• NSU's bench dominated Saint Leo's by a 32-6 margin, as McMahon and Osceola combined for 28 of those 32 points. 
• Sharks won the battle in the paint, finishing with 38 points to Saint Leo's 26.
• NSU also finished with 11 second chance points in the second half, none bigger than Kelly's putback off the offensive rebound with 0.7 to play.

BEYOND THE BOXSCORE:

• Tully continues to lead the SSC in average points per game at 18.7, scoring at least 21 points for her fourth time this season.
• McMahon has now recorded a block in four straight games for the first time in her Sharks career, while matching a career-high with three steals. 
• After recording just six points in her first three contests, Osceola scored a season-high 11 points, her first double-digit outing since Feb. 2, 2018 after she missed the entire 2018-19 season due to injury.
• The Sharks shot 44 percent on a Lady Lions team that currently leads the SSC in defensive field goal percentage at 38 percent. In nine outings for the Lady Lions, the 44.2 mark by NSU was the highest output of any Saint Leo opponent.
• The 20 points via the charity stripe was the highest output since the South Regional victory over Florida Southern last year, in which the Sharks finished 24-of-26. 
• For the first time this season, the Sharks were held under five three pointers.
• The 37 rebounds was a season-high for the Sharks who are now averaging 31.6 per contest.
• Sharks held the Lady Lions to only 21 defensive rebounds as they average an SSC leading 30 per game.
• The Lady Lions have now been outscored by a 43 point margin in the third quarter this season.
• NSU has now won 14 of the past 15 matchups against Saint Leo, and are 32-4 all-time against the Lady Lions.

UP NEXT: 
The Sharks will return home to the friendly confines of the Rick Case Arena Saturday Dec. 14th, as NSU takes on the Tars of Rollins College. Prior to tip-off, an honorary ceremony will commence as the Sharks will receive their South Region Championship rings.

SHARKS ON SOCIAL MEDIA:
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