FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. - After a deep postseason push to the Sweet Sixteen in the 2023-24 campaign, Head Coach LeAnn Freeland-Curry and the Sharks have reloaded and are looking to make another NCAA Tournament appearance. Nova Southeastern finished last season with a 25-6 overall record, which featured an NSU record 20 straight wins.
"Our players have been training very hard and must be ready to play well out of the gates this season", stated Head Coach LeAnn Freeland-Curry. "The first four games are very important, since they all count as region games in the NCAA South Region rankings. Those four games are all on the road, so we scheduled two of our three scrimmages away to help prepare us for an unfamiliar environment. Overall, our eight non-conference games will be challenging to help prepare us for the SSC grind."
The Sharks welcome six new players, which include Corina Conley (Kentucky Wesleyan), Payton Graber (College of Saint Rose), Madison Cloonan (Ursuline College), Michaela Cloonan (Ursuline College), Dash Shaw (Purdue-Northwest), and Mercedes Simmons (Purdue-Northwest).
"Our staff is excited about the experienced group that we have. The players consistently work hard, share the ball, and have a defensive mindset. We have also been impressed by the energy they bring to practice everyday and the team chemistry that has already been established", said Freeland-Curry.
NSU will kick off the season on the road in Montgomery, Alabama at the Gulf South Conference-Sunshine State Crossover Classic where they will take on Montevallo and Auburn-Montgomery in a back-to-back on 11/8 and 11/9.
Nova Southeastern will continue their road trip, heading to Dahlonega, GA to face Clayton State (11/15) and North Georgia (11/16) before opening up SSC play in Winter Park, FL against Rollins College on November 23rd. The Sharks will then make their long-awaited home debut at the Rick Case Arena in a back-to-back against Shaw University (11/29) and Georgian Court (11/30) before heading back on the road to face Lynn (12/4). Nova Southeastern will close out the year with three straight games at the Rick Case Arena against Barry (12/14), Pittsburg State (12/19), and Northwest Missouri State (12/20).
NSU will ring in the new year with a New Year's Day matchup at home against Tampa prior to heading on the road to take on Eckerd on January 4th and Palm Beach Atlantic (1/8). The Sharks will continue SSC action with matchups at home against Saint Leo (1/11), home against Florida Southern (1/15), at Florida Tech (1/18), home against Embry-Riddle (1/22), home against Lynn (1/29), at Barry (2/1), at Tampa (2/5), home against Eckerd (2/8), and at home against Palm Beach Atlantic (2/12).
The final stretch of the 2024-25 campaign begins with road matchups against Saint Leo (2/15) and Florida Southern (2/19) before heading back home to face Florida Tech (2/22). The Sharks will then travel to Daytona Beach, Fl to face Embry-Riddle (2/26) and will close out the regular season at home against Rollins on March 1st.
The Sunshine State Conference Tournament tips off on Saturday, March 4th.
The NCAA National Championship tournament will be held at UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse in Pittsburgh, PA.
Season Tickets for the Nova Southeastern Sharks Women's Basketball season can be purchased HERE. To stay up-to-date on NSU Women's Basketball, be sure to follow on Instagram and X at NSU_WBasketball
