LAKELAND, Fla. – For the second time in as many days, Hailey Conley drilled a game-tying three in the late stages of the fourth to send the Sharks into overtime. However, just like Thursday night at home against Eckerd, the Sharks could not muster enough offense to combat the Mocs, dropping a closely contested game, 76-69, on Saturday night at the Jenkins Field House.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
FINAL: L, 69-76
RECORDS: Nova Southeastern University Sharks (6-6, 2-3 SSC), Florida Southern Moccasins (8-6, 5-1 SSC)
LOCATION: Jenkins Field House (Streamline Sale Arena) | Lakeland, Fla.
FOLLOW US: @NSUSHARKS on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
 
1ST QUARTER | Both the Sharks (66.7 percent) and the Mocs (50.0 percent) shot a high percentage in the first quarter of action on Saturday night. After the Mocs opened the game up with the first two baskets, Jordan Tully responded with four straight points, highlighted by her 16th block of the season on defense, then getting it done offensively in transition to tie it early at 4-4. The Sharks would then proceed to hit their next four field goals in a row and regained the lead, 16-15, when Makenna Drabick hit both free throws at the 2:34 mark. A 7-0 run for the Sharks was stemmed by their zone defense that held FSC without a point for 3:19, until a late three-pointer by the Mocs with 0:33 to play gave them a 18-17 lead after the first period.

2ND QUARTER | The second quarter was a stingy one defensively as both teams combined for just 19 total points. Maria Bardeeva collected her sixth point off the bench after her layup opened up the scoring, giving the Sharks their third lead of the game at 19-18. Both teams would endure a scoring drought as the Sharks would go four minutes without a basket until Iva Ilic's layup tied it up at 22-22, before she knocked down the the contested trifecta from the corner with 2:18 to play, giving the Sharks a three point lead. The Mocs would close the quarter strong on a 7-0 run, on the back's of three straight field goals, to make it 29-25 FSC at the half. The Mocs went into halftime with 15 more shots taken than the Sharks after they forced 12 turnovers. 

3RD QUARTER | For the second time in the game, NSU would kick off the quarter with the first basket after Drabick notched her sixth point of the game. Florida Southern continued to lead it until the 5:07 mark when Conley knocked down a triple to give the visitors a two-point lead, 41-39.  With 1:09 to play, the Sharks re-took the lead after Ilic finished underneath the basket to put NSU on top, 47-46, after three quarters of play.

4TH QUARTER | NSU took its largest lead of the game after Ilic converted from downtown to give the Sharks a 52-48 lead at the 7:31 mark. From there, Florida Southern would proceed to go on an 11-0 run, as the Sharks did not score until Tully's layup with 3:23 on the clock, making it 54-59 in favor of the home team. Ilic would come up with another big-time shot from down town, proceeded by Tully's basket that tied the game at 59-59, with 0:58 to play. NSU called a timeout with 0:30 to play, down 62-59, but once again it was Conley with ice in her veins converting from deep for the second consecutive game to force overtime at 62-62.

OVERTIME | It was a back-and-forth overtime period with the game tied at 68 a peice and only 1:57 to play. Unfortunately for the Sharks, their offense fell dry at the worst possible time, unable to score a field goal in the final 3:27 of the extra frame. The Mocs would close the battle out on a 8-1 run, aided by back-to-back three-pointers as the Sharks fell in overtime for their second consecutive game, 69-76.

INSIDE THE STATS:

• Tully led the Sharks offensively, finishing with 19 points, while shooting 6-of-10 from the floor and 7-of-8 from the line. The Canadian also recorded two blocks and two steals.
• Bardeeva both notched 15 points, on 6-of-9 shooting, adding a block and two rebounds in 26 minutes played.
• Ilic also scored 15 points, draining 3-of-7 shots from down town, chipping in with four rebounds, three assists and two steals.
• Conley drilled her third trey of the game late in the fourth to tie it as she finished with 12 points, including a team-high 12 rebounds and five assists to cap off a strong double-double performance.
• NSU shot 44 percent from the field compared to 39 percent by FSC, however, the Mocs would finish with 22 more field goals attempted.
• Sharks were strong in the paint, finishing plus eight, outscoring the Mocs 36-28
• The Mocs finished with 18 offensive rebounds, leading to 18 second chance points.
• An off night at the line for both teams, as the Sharks were just 15-23 (65 percent), while the Mocs were 9-14 (64 percent).
• The rematch of last year's South Region Championship did not disappoint as the game featured 22 lead changes. 

BEYOND THE BOXSCORE:

• For the 11th time in 12 outings, Tully scored in double-figures, as the senior continues to lead the SSC in average points per game at 17.2. Two more blocks for Tully now puts her second in the SSC in average blocked shots per game at 1.4.
• For the first time in her Sharks career, Conley notched a double-double after a career-high 12 rebounds to go along with 12 points. With another three makes from downtown, Conley leads the SSC in 3-point field goals made with 39.
• Bardeeva scored a season-high 15 points, while just playing over 20 minutes for the second time this season as she recovers from injury.
• After four consecutive wins, the Sharks have now dropped two in a row for the second time as they opened the season with back-to-back losses at the GSC/SSC crossover.

UP NEXT: 
The Sharks will conclude their two game road trip as they head to Lynn next Wednesday to take on the Fighting Knights. The game is scheduled for a 5:30 p.m. tip-off at the de Hoernle Sports & Cultural Center.

SHARKS ON SOCIAL MEDIA:
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