MELBOURNE, Fla.  - Kaliyah Morales recorded 18 points, four assists and four steals to lead a balanced scoring attack, and #10 Nova Southeastern bested Florida Tech 88-64 on the road Saturday afternoon. The Sharks also got 15 points from Bridie McCann, 12 points from Taydra Simpson, and 11 points apiece from Markayla Holland and Hailey Chiles as they earned their third straight victory. 



Score: #10 Nova Southeastern 88 | Florida Tech 64
Records: #10 Nova Southeastern 22-2 (14-2 SSC) | Florida Tech 8-16 (5-12 SSC)
Location: Charles and Ruth Clemente Center | Melbourne, Fla.
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The first few minutes were tightly contested, as Bridie McCann opened up the scoring with two three-pointers for NSU. The Panthers tied the score 8-8 midway through the period on a bucket from Mikayla Morin, but the Sharks went on a 7-0 run and extended their lead to 15-8 after Kaliyah Morales converted two free throws at the 3:27 mark. The Panthers became unraveled in the final minute of the period, as the Sharks got three consecutive steals and scores to push their lead to 25-12. Tia Roberts scored a layup just before the buzzer to stop the bleeding for Florida Tech, and NSU led 25-14 at the end of the first quarter. 

The Panthers trailed 27-17 after Mikayla Morin's layup at the 7:21 mark of the second quarter. The Sharks then rattled off a 10-0 run over the next two and half minutes, as they went up 37-17 on a three-pointer from Brianna Williams just before the media timeout. The Sharks took their largest lead of the half, 51-23, on another three-pointer from Morales with a minute remaining, and they led 51-25 at the break. Morales' 14 points and four steals paced the Sharks in the first half.

In the third quarter, the Panthers briefly cut the deficit to 22 points, but McCann responded with another three-pointer to go up 59-33 at the 7:15 mark. The Panthers again cut into the deficit, as Morin's bucket cut the Nova lead to 59-38. The Sharks continued pushing ahead, however, and back-to-back threes from McCann and Anaia Hoard gave them a 73-44 lead at the end of the third. 

NSU went up by 30, 74-44, on a free throw from Hailey Chiles early in the fourth quarter. They took an 83-44 lead, their largest of the game, at the 7:38 mark on a free throw from McCann, and both teams let their reserves get some action as NSU won 88-64. For the game, the Sharks recorded 17 steals and forced 30 turnovers, scoring 39 points off those turnovers. 



Kaliyah Morales: 18 points, four assists, four steals
Bridie McCann: 15 points
Taydra Simpson: 12 points, three steals, three rebounds
Markayla Holland: 11 points, seven rebounds, four assists, four steals
Hailey Chiles: 11 points, six rebounds



The Sharks will be on the road again as they'll take on Embry-Riddle next Wednesday, February 18 at 5:30 PM. To stay up-to-date on Sharks Women's Basketball, be sure to follow on Instagram and Twitter/X at NSU_WBasketball.