JACKSON, TN. – The #24 ranked and third-seeded Nova Southeastern Women’s Basketball team returns to the NCAA Tournament for the third consecutive season. The Sharks look to make another deep postseason push, kicking off the tournament against the six-seeded Alabama Huntsville Chargers on Friday afternoon in Jackson, Tennessee.
Nova Southeastern Sharks (25-6, 16-4 SSC)
Last Game: Nova Southeastern 51, Embry-Riddle 55 (SSC Championship)
The Sharks have made the NCAA Tournament in nine out of the 13 seasons during Freeland-Curry’s tenure and are coming off their first SSC Championship appearance since the 2014-15 season. NSU has relied on its complete team effort, as it ranks sixth in all of Division II and top 15 across all NCAA Levels in bench points per game (32.1). NSU also ranks 10th across all NCAA Levels in total bench scoring (995 points). Bench scoring accounts for 46% of the team’s point average.
The Sharks and the Chargers have played each other three previous times, with NSU being victorious in all three matchups; the last meeting between the two teams was in November 2018, when the Sharks won 72-68. Today’s matchup will be the first time both teams have faced off in the NCAA Tournament.
Alabama Huntsville Chargers (25-6, 18-4 SSC)
Last Game: Alabama-Huntsville 52, Union (TN) 58 (GSC Championship)
Head Coach Allen Sharpe has completely turned around the program in his first season at the helm, leading his squad to the Gulf South Conference Championship a year after the Chargers finished the season with a 9-18 overall record.
Alabama-Huntsville is led by GSC and South Region Player of the Year Lili Wilken. The junior is averaging 17.5 points per game, leading the team in scoring and being the second-leading scorer in the GSC. Alexis Woods has also played a big part in the Chargers success, leading the team in shots blocked (11) and three-point percentage (45.5).
Tip-off is scheduled for 1 PM at Fred DeLay Gymnasium in Jackson, TN.
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