VALDOSTA, GA – With a trip to the NCAA Elite Eight on the line, the #25-ranked Nova Southeastern women’s basketball team will take on fellow SSC member and third-seeded Tampa in the South Region Championship on Monday evening.
This will be the third matchup between both teams this season with both NSU and Tampa taking a game on their home court. NSU took down UT 73-66 in their first matchup of the season from the Rick Case Arena, but Tampa bounced back and evened the series with a 74-76 OT thriller at the Bob Martinez Athletics Center. The last time Nova Southeastern faced Tampa in the NCAA tournament was during the 2013-14 season when the Sharks took down the Spartans in the South Region Championship.
WHAT TO WATCH / HOW THEY GOT HERE
NOVA SOUTHEASTERN
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Nicole Scales has been sensational all tournament long, averaging a team-high 16.5 points per game through two games of action.
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Alana Ellis came up big against number-one-seeded Valdosta State in the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament, scoring 16 points and making four three-pointers.
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Not to mention, the Sharks defense has been clicking on all cylinders, holding the high-powered Blazers offense to their fourth-lowest point total of the season (58).
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In the Sharks last matchup with the Spartans, India Shepherd scored a career-high 20 points, leading all scorers.
NSU kicked off the tournament with an impressive victory over number five-seeded Lee, taking down the Lady Flames 71-61. The Sharks weren’t done yet, coming back a day later and defeating number one-seeded Valdosta State 69-58, snapping their 27-game win streak and undefeated home record.
WHAT TO WATCH / HOW THEY GOT HERE
TAMPA
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The Spartans have four players averaging double-digit points per game (Zoe Piller, Mya Giusto, Audrey Ramsey, and Sarah Jones).
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Mya Giusto was the main catalyst for the Spartans overtime victory over the Sharks in their previous matchup, scoring a team-high 20 points.
In the opening round of the NCAA tournament, Zoe Pillar and Mya Giusto led UT to victory over familiar SSC foe Embry-Riddle, taking down the Eagles 76-70. The following day featured a rematch of the SSC Championship between the Spartans and the Eckerd Tritons in the second round of the tournament. Both teams traded baskets throughout the entire game, ultimately leading to five extra minutes in overtime. With under five seconds remaining in OT, Giusto was fouled as she drove to the basket. The senior knocked down the game-winning free throw to send Tampa to the South Region Championship.
Tip-off for round three between the No. 25 Nova Southeastern Women’s Basketball team and the Tampa Spartans is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. at The Complex in Valdosta, GA on Monday evening. To stay up-to-date on the Sharks throughout their NCAA Tournament run, be sure to follow on Instagram and X at NSU_WBasketball.
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