FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- The 12th-ranked Nova Southeastern Sharks opened up SSC play with a win, as they earned a 67-49 victory over the visiting Tampa Spartans on Saturday afternoon. The Sharks used four double-figure scorers to build a sizable lead and cruise to their first conference victory of the season.



Score: #12 Nova Southeastern 67 | Tampa 49
Records: #12 Nova Southeastern 4-0 (1-0 SSC) | Tampa 2-4 (0-1 SSC)
Location: Crutchfield Court at Rick Case Arena | Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
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NSU opened the game with a 7-2 run, and led 7-4 at the first media timeout. The two teams went back and forth throughout the quarter, but Markayla Holland put back a missed layup with 46.2 seconds remaining, forcing a timeout. The Spartans had a chance to cut the deficit but then missed two free throws, and the Sharks went into the second quarter leading 15-10.

The Sharks pushed their advantage to nine points on Taydra Simpson's three-pointer at the 6:36 mark of the second quarter. The advantage stayed at eight points after Bridie McCann hit a three-pointer, and the Sharks led 26-18 midway through the period. NSU then turned up the pressure and went up 34-20, after back-to-back threes from Holland and McCann, and then a steal and score from Simpson. Kyrstin Green then got in on the action, hitting a three to go up 12, and then drew an offensive foul. The Sharks led 38-26 at the half.

The two teams traded buckets to start the third, and NSU's lead remained 10, 43-33, at the under-five media timeout. McCann hit another three-pointer to push the lead to 46-33, but Tampa responded with a 7-0 run and only trailed by six, 46-40, going into the final frame.

The Sharks opened the fourth quarter with a three from McCann and then a steal and finish from Kaliyah Morales to go up 51-40. Morales hit another jumper at the 7:37 mark, and NSU stretched their advantage to 59-43 at the final media timeout. NSU went up by 20, 65-45 after Celeste Reed completed an and-one, giving the Sharks all the momentum, and they closed out the 67-49 win.



Bridie McCann - 17 points (5/10 3PT)
Kyrstin Green - 12 points
Markayla Holland - 11 points, 10 rebounds, five assists
Taydra Simpson - 11 points, three rebounds, three assists




The Sharks move to 1-0 in SSC play and will take on St. Thomas University on Tuesday, November 25 at 6pm in pre-Thanksgiving action. To stay up to date on Sharks Women's Basketball, be sure to follow on Instagram and X at NSU_WBasketball.