TAMPA, Fla. – Nova Southeastern trimmed a 20-point, second-half deficit all the way down to five in the final minute of the ball game, yet its furious comeback proved to be too little too late, as the Sharks eventually fell on the road at Tampa by a final score of 66-59 Saturday afternoon. Christen Prasse led the way for the Sharks, notching her sixth double-double with 17 points and 12 rebounds, while Alison Hughes chipped in with 16 points of her own in the effort.
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
FINAL: L, 66-59
RECORDS: Nova Southeastern University Sharks (16-10, 12-7 SSC), University of Tampa Spartans (20-6, 14-4 SSC)
LOCATION: Bob Martinez Athletics Center | Tampa, Fla.    
FOLLOW US: @NSUSHARKS on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
1ST QUARTER | Neither offense managed much traction in the opening 10 minutes on Saturday, as the Sharks limited the Spartans to just 20 percent shooting from the floor. An early four points from Prasse put Nova Southeastern up 6-2 just 2:10 into the contest. Nova Southeastern maintained its lead at 9-7 following a feed from Claire McMahon to Mikayla Thompson before closing the quarter on top, 12-9.

2ND QUARTER | The Sharks remained ahead until a three by Tampa's Julia Ingram handed the Spartans their first advantage at 14-12 with 8:32 to play in the second. Another triple the next time down the court stretched the margin to five, as Tampa would eventually rattle off 12 unanswered points to climb in front 21-12. The Sharks would be held scoreless throughout the first 7:13 of the quarter before Prasse ended the drought by splitting a pair at the free throw line. The deficit grew to as many as 15, but a late floater by Hughes sent Nova Southeastern into the break still within striking distance, trailing 30-17.

3RD QUARTER | Tampa carried its second-quarter momentum into the start of the third by making four of its first five shot attempts from the field, including a Melijah Sullivan jumper that extended the Spartans' lead to its largest of the day at 39-19. A Prasse lay-up with 3:25 remaining in the period pulled the Sharks back to within 44-31. However, Nova Southeastern would tally just one free throw the rest of the way, as it faced an 18-point, uphill climb heading into the final quarter.  

4TH QUARTER | After missing its first 11 three-point attempts, Nova Southeastern finally got one to fall when Hughes connected with 7:44 remaining. Still down by 17, though, head coach Leann Freeland-Curry was forced to turn to a full-court, man-to-man defense. The move paid instant dividends for the Sharks, as they ripped off nine straight points, trimming the margin to 54-44 following a McMahon trey. Another three, this time by Hughes, then narrowed the gap to single digits for the first time since the 2:46 mark of the second quarter. Nova Southeastern hung within seven, and even battled back to as close as five with 46 seconds showing on the clock. However, a Tampa lay-up just moments later ultimately proved to be the dagger, with the Spartans able to salt the game away at the foul line.

INSIDE THE STATS:

• The Sharks shot 42.5 percent from the field in the second half after converting just 17.9 percent of their attempts in the first 20 minutes.
• Tully finished with double-digit rebounds for the first time this season, puling down 11 in 21 minutes of action.
• Nova Southeastern turned the ball over only nine times, while forcing 17 Tampa miscues on the defensive end.

UP NEXT:
The Sharks will honor their five seniors - Hughes, Prasse, Thompson, Katie Barnard and Megan Piggott – on Senior Night next Wednesday against Palm Beach Atlantic. NSU defeated the Sailfish, 95-70, in the season's first meeting back on Jan. 23.

SHARKS ON SOCIAL MEDIA:
Follow along with live updates on Twitter by following @NSU_WBasketball.