Next Game:
Barry
2/26/2020 | 5:30 PM
MELBOURNE, Fla. – The Sharks responded from an early 19 point deficit midway in the third quarter to cut the Panther lead to just one, 59-60, with 38 seconds to play in the fourth. However, two late free-throws by the Panthers sealed the deal, even with NSU holding FIT without a field goal for the final 5:46 of regulation. The Sharks would outscore the Panthers 39-29 in the second half but the late comeback fell short, with Florida Tech coming away with a, 62-59, victory Saturday afternoon at the Charles & Ruth Clemente Center.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
FINAL: L, 59-62
RECORDS: Nova Southeastern University Sharks (12-13, 8-10 SSC), Florida Tech Panthers (13-14, 9-10 SSC)
LOCATION: Charles & Ruth Clemente Center | Melbourne, Fla.
FOLLOW US: @NSUSHARKS on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube
HOW IT HAPPENED:
1ST QUARTER |Jordan Tully scored the teams first six points of the game before a deep three by Annie Santucci allowed the Sharks to retake the early lead, 9-7, going into the media timeout at the 4:35 mark. The Panthers would go up 16-11 with just over a minute to play in the quarter, but both Hailey Conley and Makenna Drabick would come up with steals allowing the Sharks to trim the deficit to just three, 16-13.
2ND QUARTER | It was an offensively challenged start to the second period as NSU mustered just four points in the first 6:47 of play. The Panthers would take advantage, extending their lead to 14, thanks to an 11-1 run, taking a, 32-18, lead with 49 seconds to play in the half. After a layup by Tully cut the lead for Florida Tech to 12, the Panthers would split a pair of free-throws in the final seconds of the period, taking a 33-20 advantage over NSU at the break.
3RD QUARTER | The Panthers continued to roll their momentum from the second into the third, upping their largest lead of the game to 19 points, ahead 43-24 at the 7:04 mark. The Sharks stormed right back, mounting a 16-4 run to turn the tides of the game after they knocked down six straight field goals in a row, and 7-of-8 overall. NSU trimmed the Panther lead to single digits heading into the fourth, down eight, 44-52.
4TH QUARTER | The Sharks would not go down easily, scrapping their way back into the ball game after scoring the first five points of the fourth, cutting the deficit to just three points at 52-49. After November Morton hit five straight field goals, the lead for the Panthers grew back to eight points with 5:48 to play, 57-48. On a perfectly executed inbounds play, Tully got the hoop and the harm, cutting it to a two possession game, down five with two minutes remaining. With just 1:14 to go, Janiffer Rodriguez hit a huge three-pointer to cut the game to a single possession, 57-60, forcing a timeout by Florida Tech. The Sharks defensively continued to stifle FIT, forcing a shot clock violation on the Panthers with 38 seconds to play, then Tully would hit the layup on the ensuing possession to make it, 59-60, in favor of Florida Tech with just 26 seconds on the clock. Fanny Hakason who had yet to score a field goal came to the stripe and proceeded to knock a pair down to push the advantage back up to three. Unfortunately, the Panthers stepped up defensively and the Sharks were unable to get a clear look off in the bleeding seconds, splitting the season series, as the Panthers came away with the 62-59 victory.
INSIDE THE STATS:
- Tully posted a strong 25 point (9-15 FG), 8 rebound line for NSU, also recording an assist and a block.
- Ilic notched nine points for the Sharks, recording three rebounds and two assists in 20 minutes of action.
- Both Rodriguez and Santucci dropped seven points each, while Clara Prasse added five of her own, to go along with a team high +7 from the floor.
- Sarah Kelly had six rebounds and a team-high six assists, while Hailey Conleyfinished with a game-high eight rebounds.
- Both teams shot a pretty identical number from the field as the Panthers finished 21-of-57 (37 percent) and the Sharks 20-of-53 (38 percent).
- The Sharks won the rebound total 38-33.
- NSU scored 19 points off of 15 FIT turnovers.
- The Sharks outscored the Panthers 39-29 in the second half of play.
- FIT led for 35:39, compared to just 1:02 for NSU.
BEYOND THE BOXSCORE:
- Tully has now recorded 25-plus points six times this season
- With the victory, Florida Tech leapfrogged over NSU in the SSC standings as the Sharks now sit sixth with just two games to play in the regular season.
UP NEXT:
The Sharks will wrap up their home portion of the regular season Wednesday Feb. 26 against Barry. This final game at the Rick Case Arena will serve as the senior day to four graduating Sharks. NSU dropped Barry on the road, 70-66, in the lone meeting this season on Jan. 22.
SHARKS ON SOCIAL MEDIA:
Follow along with live updates on Twitter by following @NSU_WBasketball. Also, follow on Facebook at /nsuwbasketball and Instagram with the handle @NSU_WBasketball.
