FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.  - Taydra Simpson had 18 points and 11 rebounds, Markayla Holland added 14 points and nine boards, and #9 Nova Southeastern defeated Saint Leo 81-68 on Senior Day. Bridie McCann (13 points), Kaliyah Morales (12 points, eight assists, five steals) and Hailey Chiles (10 points, 14 rebounds) joined them in double figures. The Sharks held the Lions scoreless for over eight minutes in the decisive third quarter as they came back and earned the win.



Score: #9 Nova Southeastern 81 | Saint Leo 68
Records: #9 Nova Southeastern 23-3 (15-3 SSC) | Saint Leo 7-17 (3-15 SSC)
Location: Crutchfield Court at Rick Case Arena | Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
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The Lions got off to an early 6-2 start, but the Sharks tied the score 8-8 when Unique Horton converted an and-one at the 6:23 mark. NSU went up 13-8 on a pullup jumper from Bridie McCann midway through the quarter, and they extended the lead to 17-11 on a bucket from Kaliyah Morales. However, the Lions stormed back and retook the lead, 20-19, on a three-pointer from Olivia Agunzo with just over a minute remaining. The Sharks responded with a jumper from Hailey Chiles, a defensive stop and then another jumper from Anaia Hoard to take a 23-20 lead at the end of the first.

The Sharks took a 25-20 lead on a score from Markayla Holland before Agunzo hit another three-pointer to cut the deficit to two points. Holland later drilled a three-pointer to go up 31-25, but the Lions went on a 5-0 spurt to cut the lead to 31-30 at the 5:03 mark. Agunzo later tied the game at 34 on another bucket with just over three minutes remaining, and Paula Llovich hit a three to knot the score at 40. The Lions took a 43-42 halftime lead when Agunzo drilled her third three-pointer of the half. The Lions shot 8-of-15 (53%) from behind the arc in the first half.

The Sharks came out of the locker room and blitzed the Lions, as they held them scoreless for over eight minutes. McCann's three-pointer at the 8:07 mark gave them a 45-43 lead that they never relinquished, and it kickstarted a 24-0 run. Chiles hit a jumper midway through the period to push their lead to 54-43, and Taydra Simpson drilled a corner three moments later to go up 64-43, forcing a Saint Leo timeout. Simpson hit another three before the Lions finally scored at the 1:47 mark, and NSU led 72-48 at the end of the third. 

The Sharks maintained a 21-point advantage midway through the fourth as Holland scored in the paint, but the Lions cut into the deficit as both teams' reserves got in on the action. The Sharks closed the 81-65 victory after outscoring the Lions 48-22 in the paint, and their reserves outscored the Lions' reserves 25-4. 



Taydra Simpson: 18 points, 11 rebounds
Markayla Holland: 14 points, nine rebounds
Bridie McCann: 13 points, four assists
Kaliyah Morales: 12 points, eight assists, five steals
Hailey Chiles:10 points, 14 rebounds
Unique Horton: 12 rebounds, seven points, three blocks, three steals



The Sharks move to 23-3 on the season, with a 15-3 mark in SSC play. They'll face Rollins College at home on February 25 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.