HUNTSVILLE, Ala. - Fifth-seed Nova Southeastern saw its season come to an end on Saturday night, as the Sharks dropped a tough 73-70 decision to 1-seed Alabama-Huntsville in the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament. Kaliyah Morales recorded 18 points and four rebounds and Anaia Hoard added 15 points and nine boards off the bench, but the Chargers got a crucial stop on the final possession to advance to the Sweet 16.



Score: #10 Nova Southeastern 70 | Alabama-Huntsville 73
Records: #10 Nova Southeastern 28-5 (16-4 SSC) | Alabama-Huntsville 30-5 (21-1 GSC)
Location: Spragins Hall | Huntsville, Ala.
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The Chargers rattled off an 8-0 run to start the game, as they got two three-pointers from Ivey Maddox and Lili Wilken and a layup from Paris Opelt to force an early Shark timeout. NSU responded with a 7-0 run out of the timeout, thanks to a trey from Chynna Mattair, a midrange jumper from Bridie McCann and two free throws from Mattair. The Sharks later tied the score at 11 on a layup from Morales with just over three minutes remaining in the opening period. However, the Chargers closed the quarter with threes from Chloe Siegel, Maddox and then Maddox again to take a 22-15 lead after the first. UAH shot 5-of-12 (42%) from three-point range in the opening period.

The Chargers went ahead by eight, 25-17, after yet another three-pointer early in the second quarter, but the Sharks drew within five after McCann converted an and-one. The pace then picked back up, as the teams continued trading baskets in the middle frame. Millie Brown knocked down a corner three for the Chargers to go up 30-22, but the Sharks countered with a 7-0 spurt. Morales drilled a trey to pull within 30-29, but UAH responded with back-to-back treys to go back up 36-29. The Sharks trailed 38-33 at halftime after consecutive baskets from Anaia Hoard. 

The Sharks came out of the locker room on a mission, as they drew within two coming out of the break. NSU got a layup and a triple from Markayla Holland before another score from Hailey Chiles got them within 42-40. UAH went up by six before McCann came around a screen and knocked down another midrange jumper to pull within 46-42, and the teams then traded three-pointers. The Chargers closed the quarter with threes from Maddox and Millie Brown to take a commanding 57-47 lead at the end of the third.

NSU cut the lead down to single digits on a corner three from Hoard, but neither team could get stops as they continued trading baskets. Celeste Reed's and-one with 5:17 remaining brought Nova within 63-56, but Maddox scored on the other end to go back up by nine. Bella White's three-pointer gave UAH a 68-58 lead with 4:07 remaining. However, the Sharks showed grit, as they got two scores and a block from Morales and another bucket from Hoard to cut the deficit to 69-64. They forced a shot clock violation on the ensuing possession, getting the ball back with 1:56 remaining. 

Morales drilled a baseline jumper to draw the Sharks within 69-66 with 1:06 left. NSU put Brown on the line, and she knocked down two free throws to extend UAH's lead to 71-66 with 58 ticks remaining. Morales knocked down a long two to cut the lead to 71-68 with 39 seconds remaining, and she got a steal and score on the very next play to cut UAH's lead to 71-70 and force a timeout. 

The Sharks fouled Paris Opelt, and she knocked down both free throws to go up 73-70 before the Sharks called timeout with 7.2 seconds left to advance the ball. NSU's three-point attempt from the top of the key glanced off the rim, and the ensuing putback was also off, and the Chargers survived 73-70.



The Sharks finish the season 28-5, with a 16-4 mark in conference play and as SSC Tournament Champions for the first time since 2014-15. To stay up-to-date on the Sharks during the offseason, be sure to follow on Instagram and Twitter/X at NSU_WBasketball.