TAMPA, Fla. – The Nova Southeastern Women’s basketball team upset the #18 ranked and second-seeded Tampa Spartans in the SSC Semifinals Thursday evening at the Bob Martinez Athletics Center. NSU has advanced to its first Sunshine State Conference Championship since the 2014-15 season, when they took down the Barry Buccaneers 61-51. The Sharks’ suffocating defense held the Spartans to a season-low 45 points; offensively, NSU was led by double-digit efforts from Aubrey Stupp (14) and Madison Cloonan (10).
SCORE: Nova Southeastern 55, #18 Tampa 45
RECORDS: Nova Southeastern 25-5, 16-4 SSC, #18 Tampa 26-6, 17-3 SSC
LOCATION: Bob Martinez Athletics Center | Tampa, Fla.
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First Half – The Sharks jumped out to a 7-0 lead thanks to baskets from Madison Cloonan (4) and Corina Conley (3). At the 4:42 mark, back-to-back buckets from Michaela Cloonan and Dash Shaw pushed the Sharks ahead 12-3. Tampa weathered the storm with a quick 4-0 run to cut their deficit to five points as they headed to the second quarter. The Spartans started the second quarter action with a jump shot, bringing their deficit to within three points. Shortly after, five consecutive points from Shaw and Madison Cloonan extended NSU’s lead to eight points. Tampa then cut into the Sharks lead to bring the score to 20-17 but Aubrey Stupp and Jess Moors closed out the half with back-to-back baskets to give NSU a 25-19 lead.
Second Half – Tampa clawed its way back into this matchup, cutting its deficit to 33-31 with 2:26 left to play in the third quarter, but the Sharks never wavered. Payton Graber halted the Spartans’ run with a three-pointer to put NSU back up 36-31. Nova Southeastern would hold a 38-35 lead going into the fourth quarter. The Sharks came out hot, going on an 8-0 run capped off by a layup from Michaela Cloonan to extend their lead to 46-35. NSU picked up the intensity defensively, making it difficult for Tampa to get into an offensive rhythm, ultimately leading the Sharks to a 55-45 victory.
The Sharks advance to their first Sunshine State Conference Championship since the 2014-15 season.
NSU held Tampa to a season-low 45 points.
Nova Southeastern will head to Embry-Riddle to take on the first-seeded Embry-Riddle Eagles in the Sunshine State Conference Championship on Sunday, March 9th. Tip-off is set for 1:00 PM
To stay up-to-date on Sharks Women’s Basketball, be sure to follow on Instagram and X at NSU_WBasketball.
