Sharks Cruised Past Bearcats, Complete Holiday Sweep

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Nova Southeastern women’s basketball team swept the NSU Holiday Invitational, taking down the Northwest Missouri State Bearcats from the Rick Case Arena on Friday afternoon. Late buckets from Payton Graber (13) secured the victory for the Sharks. 

Breakdown   
      
SCORE: Nova Southeastern 73, Northwest Missouri State 57    
RECORDS: Nova Southeastern 9-2, 2-1 SSC, Northwest Missouri State 7-5, 0-2 MIAA      
LOCATION: Rick Case Arena | Fort Lauderdale, Fla.     
GET SOCIAL: Instagram & Twitter – NSU_WBasketball   
 
      
How it Happened

First Half – Jess Moors jump started and closed out a 16-2 Shark run, which also featured baskets from Mercedes Simmons, Payton Graber, and Aubrey Stupp. The Bearcats weathered the storm, going on a quick 8-2 run to cut their deficit to eight points. Dash Shaw would close the quarter with an and one to put NSU ahead 21-10. Back-to-back buckets from Corina Conley and Simmons would kick off the second quarter for the Sharks. With 6:25 left to play, the Sharks went on an 11-4 run to put them ahead 38-19 as they headed into the halftime break. 

Second Half – At the 4:34 mark of the third quarter, a three-pointer from Northwest Missouri State cut their deficit to 10. Shortly after, Simmons answered with five straight points to bring the score to 47-34. The Bearcats continued to fight, bringing NSU’s lead back down to nine, but four straight points from Graber put the Sharks back up 13 as they headed into the final frame. Both teams hunkered down defensively in the fourth quarter, but NSU’s tenacious defense and late buckets from Graber would secure the 73-57 victory for Nova Southeastern.  

Shark Standouts
Mercedes Simmons – 14 points 
Payton Graber – 13 points, seven assists, two steals 
Dash Shaw – 11 points 
Jess Moors – 9 points, three steals 

   

Quotes

Head Coach LeAnn Freeland-Curry – Our players put tw back to back games together against two very talented MIAA teams. I’m proud of our effort and selflessness as a team. Our bench production continues to be one of the best in the nation and it’s hard to stop that many players who are working hard together on both ends of the floor for forty minutes.

Payton Graber – We played really hard and together and took them out the game early. We distributed the ball well and it was a great team win.

What's Next
Nova Southeastern returns home on New Year’s Day to take on the Tampa Spartans. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m. EST.   
  
To stay up-to-date on Sharks Women’s Basketball, follow on Instagram and Twitter at NSU_WBasketball.   

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Complete Team Effort Pushes Sharks Past #8 Gorillas at NSU Holiday Invitational

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – A complete team effort from the Nova Southeastern Women’s Basketball team propelled the Sharks to an impressive victory over the number eight ranked Pittsburg State Gorillas on Thursday Afternoon from the Rick Case Arena. Double-digit efforts from Corina Conley (17), Aubrey Stupp (15), and Jess Moors (11) led the way for NSU.  
 

Breakdown  
     
SCORE: Nova Southeastern 72, No. 8 Pittsburg State 63   
RECORDS: Nova Southeastern 8-2, 2-1 SSC, Pittsburg State 9-2, 2-0 MIAA     
LOCATION: Rick Case Arena | Fort Lauderdale, Fla.    
GET SOCIAL: Instagram & Twitter – NSU_WBasketball  

     
How it Happened

First Half—The first few minutes of the game were toughly fought as the Gorillas got off to an early 8-2 lead. Then, Corina Conley hit a timely three for the Sharks to cut Pitt State’s advantage to three points. Pittsburg State grew their lead back up to nine but Aubrey Stupp made her presence felt, scoring a quick five points in the last minute to make it a 20-14 first-quarter lead for the Gorillas. The second quarter featured a shift for NSU as Madison Cloonan, Corina Conley, and Mercedes Simmons began to assert their dominance as they led a 15-4 run to help put the Sharks ahead 31-28 heading into the break.  
 
Second Half – The Sharks got off to a hot start in the second half, going on a 9-2 run to build their lead to 10. Pitt State answered with  a 10-2 run of their own to cut thei deficit  back down to two. Shortly after, Jess Moors was able to draw contact and get to the foul line, knocking down both free throws to put the Sharks back up four. Moors and Kailyn Terrell then hit a couple big threes to extend NSU’s Sharks lead back to nine.The Sharks held onto a 51-45 advantage heading into the final frame. The final quarter featured a back-and-forth affair between both teams. With under five minutes remaining in the game, Corina Conley came alive in the fourth quarter as she sparked the Sharks to her own 8-2 run to help grow their lead to six. In the final 2:30 NSU clamped down defensively, not allowing Pitt State to score another point for the remainder of the game and ultimately securing Nova Southeastern’s big victory over Pittsburg State, 72-63. 

Shark Standouts
Corina Conley – 17 points, four 3PM
Aubrey Stupp – 15 points
Jess Moors – 11 points, two steals

 
 Quotes
 
Head Coach LeAnn Freeland-Curry – Our players earned a big win today. Pitt State is a great program in a great league. I’m proud of our overall effort and toughness. Our trust in each other was evident throughout the game and what we continue to build together. 

Corina Conley – I’m proud of our team today and how we battled!! We played an extremely talented team and stuck together the entire time. It was so fun to be apart of such an amazing win. We’re excited and ready to get back after it tomorrow. 
 
 
 
What's Next 
Nova Southeastern will return to the Rick Case Arena to close out the NSU Holiday Invitational on Friday, December 20th, for a home matchup against Northwest Missouri State University. Tip-off is set for 2:00 PM. 

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Sharks Tabbed Second in SSC Preseason Coaches Poll

MELBOURNE, Fla. – After claiming the 2023-24 SSC Regular Season Title, the Sunshine State Conference tabbed the Sharks second in the 2024-2025 women’s basketball preseason coaches’ poll on Wednesday morning.   

Last season, Head Coach LeAnn Freeland-Curry led the Sharks back to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen for the first time since the 2018-19 season. NSU rattled off a program record 20 straight wins en route to a 25-6 overall record and a 18-2 record in conference play, earning them the first seed in the SSC Tournament. 

The Sharks look to carry that momentum into the 2024-25 campaign with the addition of several new faces and the return of Jess Moors, SSC Freshman of the Year Kailyn Terrell, Zeyno Seren, Delaney Wolfe, Alana Ellis, Suzan Kinran, and All-SSC Third team selection Aubrey Stupp.  

NSU will begin its 2024-2025 season on the road at the GSC/SSC Crossover Classic, against Montevallo on November 8th, and Auburn Montgomery on November 9th.   

League play begins on Saturday, November 23rd, for the Sharks, where they will take on Rollins College in Winter Park, Fla. 
 

2024-25 SSC WOMEN’S BASKETBALL PRESEASON COACHES POLL
 

Rank School Total Votes
1 Tampa 96 (7)
2 Nova Southeastern 94 (4)
3 Embry-Riddle 79
4 Eckerd 68
5 Rollins 62
6 Lynn 55
7 Palm Beach Atlantic  49
T8 Barry 35
T8 Florida Southern 35
10 Saint Leo 19
11 Florida Tech 13
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NSU Women’s Basketball Announces 2024-25 Schedule

FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. – After a deep postseason push to the Sweet Sixteen in the 2023-24 campaign, Head Coach LeAnn Freeland-Curry and the Sharks have reloaded and are looking to make another NCAA Tournament appearance. Nova Southeastern finished last season with a 25-6 overall record, which featured an NSU record 20 straight wins. 

“Our players have been training very hard and must be ready to play well out of the gates this season”, stated Head Coach LeAnn Freeland-Curry. “The first four games are very important, since they all count as region games in the NCAA South Region rankings. Those four games are all on the road, so we scheduled two of our three scrimmages away to help prepare us for an unfamiliar environment. Overall, our eight non-conference games will be challenging to help prepare us for the SSC grind.”

The Sharks welcome six new players, which include Corina Conley (Kentucky Wesleyan), Payton Graber (College of Saint Rose), Madison Cloonan (Ursuline College), Michaela Cloonan (Ursuline College), Dash Shaw (Purdue-Northwest), and Mercedes Simmons (Purdue-Northwest). 

“Our staff is excited about the experienced group that we have. The players consistently work hard, share the ball, and have a defensive mindset. We have also been impressed by the energy they bring to practice everyday and the team chemistry that has already been established”, said Freeland-Curry.

NSU will kick off the season on the road in Montgomery, Alabama at the Gulf South Conference-Sunshine State Crossover Classic where they will take on Montevallo and Auburn-Montgomery in a back-to-back on 11/8 and 11/9.    

Nova Southeastern will continue their road trip, heading to Dahlonega, GA to face Clayton State (11/15) and North Georgia (11/16) before opening up SSC play in Winter Park, FL against Rollins College on November 23rd. The Sharks will then make their long-awaited home debut at the Rick Case Arena in a back-to-back against Shaw University (11/29) and Georgian Court (11/30) before heading back on the road to face Lynn (12/4). Nova Southeastern will close out the year with three straight games at the Rick Case Arena against Barry (12/14), Pittsburg State (12/19), and Northwest Missouri State (12/20).  

NSU will ring in the new year with a New Year’s Day matchup at home against Tampa prior to heading on the road to take on Eckerd on January 4th and Palm Beach Atlantic (1/8). The Sharks will continue SSC action with matchups at home against Saint Leo (1/11), home against Florida Southern (1/15), at Florida Tech (1/18), home against Embry-Riddle (1/22), home against Lynn (1/29), at Barry (2/1), at Tampa (2/5), home against Eckerd (2/8), and at home against Palm Beach Atlantic (2/12). 

The final stretch of the 2024-25 campaign begins with road matchups against Saint Leo (2/15) and Florida Southern (2/19) before heading back home to face Florida Tech (2/22). The Sharks will then travel to Daytona Beach, Fl to face Embry-Riddle (2/26) and will close out the regular season at home against Rollins on March 1st. 

The Sunshine State Conference Tournament tips off on Saturday, March 4th. 

The NCAA National Championship tournament will be held at UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse in Pittsburgh, PA.  
  
Season Tickets for the Nova Southeastern Sharks Women’s Basketball season can be purchased HERE. To stay up-to-date on NSU Women’s Basketball, be sure to follow on Instagram and X at NSU_WBasketball 

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#21 Sharks Extend Win Streak to 18 Games, Takes Down PBA

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – The 21st ranked Nova Southeastern women’s basketball team earned their 20th win of the season on Saturday afternoon, taking down Palm Beach Atlantic in an overtime thriller from the Rubin Area. Double digit efforts from Morgan Kane (19), Alana Ellis (15), Nicole Scales (14), Kailyn Terrell (13), and India Shepherd (10) led the way for NSU. 

Breakdown                
              
SCORE: No. 21 Nova Southeastern 89, Palm Beach Atlantic 85                 
RECORDS: No. 21 Nova Southeastern 20-3, 15-1 SSC, Palm Beach Atlantic 13-12, 7-10 SSC                 
LOCATION: Rubin Arena | West Palm Beach, Fla.                 
GET SOCIAL: Instagram & Twitter – NSU_WBasketball            

How it Happened

First Half – The Sailfish jumped out to a quick 7-0 lead before free throws from Ellis gave the Sharks their first points of the game. Ellis would continue to make her impact felt early, scoring the next seven points for NSU as they trailed 11-9 with 3:35 left. Scales closed out the quarter with a free throw to put the Sharks ahead 13-11. Five consecutive points from Shepherd and Kane to start the second quarter extended the Sharks lead to seven points. The rest of the quarter featured a back-and-forth affair with NSU holding onto a one-point lead going into the break. 

Second Half – A layup from Kane capped off a 13-0 Sharks run to kick off the half, putting NSU up 49-34. PBA continued to fight, cutting their deficit to 10 points as they headed into the final frame. After trailing throughout most of the second half, PBA rallied and cut the Sharks lead to one point with 33 seconds left. Shortly after, Scales knocked down a free throw to put NSU ahead 79-77 but the Sailfish answered with a last-second layup to send the game to overtime. The Sharks came out firing on all cylinders in OT as Aubrey Stupp knocked down a three-pointer to give NSU an 86-81 lead with just under two minutes left to play. Solid defense from the Sharks would all but secure the 89-85 SSC victory for NSU. 

Shark Standouts          

Nova Southeastern had five players score 10 or more points (Kane, Ellis, Scales, Terrell, and Shepherd). 

Coach's Corner

Head Coach LeAnn Freeland-Curry: It’s always a battle at PBA. Our players continued to fight hard even though PBA hit tough shots throughout the game. I’m impressed with how gritty our players are down the stretch to pull out wins. 

What's Next              
              
Nova Southeastern will return home Wednesday, February 21st as they take on Barry. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m. EST.    

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Sharks Ranked 21st in Latest WBCA Poll

ATLANTA, Ga. – Following a record breaking 17 straight victories, the Nova Southeastern Women’s Basketball team was recently ranked 21st in the latest WBCA Coaches Poll. The Sharks make their first appearance in the poll after entering the season not ranked.

The WBCA NCAA Division II Top 25 Coaches Poll with teams’ RECORDS THROUGH SUNDAY in parentheses, total points based on 25 points for first place through one point for 25th, ranking in last week’s poll, and first-place votes received.

NSU has been led by their team defense and impressive play from Morgan Kane and Nicole Scales. Kane is averaging 14.6 points and 8.8 rebounds per game, not to mention the graduate student has also earned two SSC Player of the Week honors this season. Scales continues to lead the charge for NSU on both sides of the floor, averaging 14.2 points per game and shooting 45% from the field while also wreaking havoc defensively. 

The Sharks are currently 1st in the SSC and are coming off of a 2-0 week, where they took down Florida Tech and Embry-Riddle. 

Nova Southeastern will be back in action on Saturday, February 17th at 2:00 PM as they head to West Palm Beach to take on Palm Beach Atlantic.

Click HERE for complete poll.

 To stay up-to-date on NSU Women’s Basketball, be sure to follow on Instagram and X at NSU_WBasketball. 

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Late Comeback Propels Sharks to 17th Straight Victory

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – THRILLER IN DAYTONA BEACH! Morgan Kane’s late free throws propelled the Sharks to victory over Embry-Riddle, extending NSU’s win streak to 17 games.  

Breakdown               
             
SCORE: Nova Southeastern 63, Embry-Riddle 61                
RECORDS: Nova Southeastern 19-3, 14-1 SSC, Embry-Riddle 16-5, 10-4 SSC                
LOCATION: ICI Center | Daytona Beach, Fla.                
GET SOCIAL: Instagram & Twitter – NSU_WBasketball           

How it Happened

First Half – Kailyn Terrell kicked off the action with a three-pointer to give the Sharks the first points of the game. With 1:35 left in the quarter, the Eagles went on a quick run, taking a 17-7 lead. A layup by Jess Moors stopped the run but the Eagles continued to stay aggressive offensively, taking a 19-11 lead heading into the second quarter. Embry-Riddle continued to pour it on, extending their lead to 27-13 with 6:54 left to play. A late surge by NSU, capped off by free-throws from Delaney Wolfe cut the Eagles lead to 34-26 as they headed into the break. 

Second Half – At the 7:10 mark of the third quarter, Kane would go on to score five of the Sharks next seven points, tying the game at 37 a piece. The Eagles answered with baskets of their own, taking a 48-41 lead going into the final frame. A three-pointer from Alana Ellis brought the team within one point with 6:59 left. Embry-Riddle continued to pick up the intensity offensively and held a 57-52 lead with 2:44 left to play. A 7-0 run featuring baskets from Nicole Scales and Jess Moors put the Sharks up 59-57. After a late three-pointer by ERAU to tie the game at 61, Kane was fouled with two seconds left to play. The graduate student would knock down both free throws and complete the comeback over Embry-Riddle, taking down the Eagles 63-61 in a thriller. 

Shark Standouts         

Morgan Kane knocked down the game winning free throws with two seconds left. 

Coach's Corner

Head Coach LeAnn Freeland-Curry: Road wins in the SSC are big. Our players fought back all game from an early deficit, but never gave up. I’m proud of our grit and resilience to pull out the win. 

What's Next             
             
Nova Southeastern will be back in action next Saturday, February 17th as they head to West Palm Beach, Fla. to take on Palm Beach Atlantic. Tip-off is set for 2:00 p.m. EST.   

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Sharks Break Program Record, Win 16th Straight Game

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Nova Southeastern women’s basketball team made history on National Girls and Women in Sports Day. NSU took down Florida Tech on Wednesday evening from the Rick Case Arena, extending their win streak to a program-record 16 games, surpassing the previous record from the 2013-14 team.  

Breakdown              
            
SCORE: Nova Southeastern 69, Florida Tech 56               
RECORDS: Nova Southeastern 18-3, 13-1 SSC, Florida Tech 6-18, 1-12 SSC               
LOCATION: Rick Case Arena | Fort Lauderdale, Fla.               
GET SOCIAL: Instagram & Twitter – NSU_WBasketball         
       

How it Happened

First Half – Nicole Scales got the action for NSU, converting a layup to tie the match at two apiece. With just under a minute left, Kyarrah Grant knocked down a three-pointer that was followed by a layup from Scales, giving the Sharks a 13-8 lead heading to the second quarter. A majority of the second quarter featured a back-and-forth affair but five consecutive points from Kane and Stupp extended NSU’s lead to seven with 2:57 left to play. The Panthers clawed their way back but a last second three-pointer from Suzan Kinran kept Florida Tech at bay as the Sharks headed to the halftime break with a 30-23 lead. 

Second Half – Scales kicked off the half with a three-pointer to put the Sharks up eight points. With just under five minutes remaining in the quarter, FIT knotted up the match at 36 all. Shortly after, India Shepherd knocked down a three-pointer to reclaim the lead. In the ensuing possession, a layup from Morgan Kane tacked on two more points for NSU as they held on to a three-point lead going into the final frame. Alana Ellis stepped up big for the Sharks in the fourth quarter, scoring five straight points to give the Sharks a 48-39 lead with 7:50 left to play. Ellis continued to impress, converting another layup 50 seconds later, extending the Sharks lead to 11. Tenacious defense from the Sharks secured their 16th straight victory as they took down the Panthers in an SSC Showdown. 

Shark Standouts        

Morgan Kane: 20 points, eight rebounds 

Coach's Corner

Head Coach LeAnn Freeland-Curry: Our staff is so proud of our players effort and toughness to finish with the win. Florida Tech has great size and played hard for 40 minutes. We came together strong in the fourth quarter with key contributions from Alana Ellis and Kyarrah Grant down the stretch. 

What's Next            
            
Nova Southeastern will be back in action Saturday, February 10th as they head to Daytona Beach, Fla. to take on Embry-Riddle in another SSC Showdown. Tip-off is set for 4:00 p.m. EST. 

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Sharks Defeat Tritons in Double OT Thriller

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Mayhem in St. Petersburg! The Sharks took down Eckerd College in a double-overtime thriller from the McArthur Center on Saturday afternoon. With that win, the Sharks won their 15th consecutive game, tying the NSU women’s basketball record for most consecutive wins in a row, which dates back to the 2013-14 season. Morgan Kane was a force for the Sharks, leading the way with a 23-point, 16-rebound performance.  

Breakdown        
        
SCORE: Nova Southeastern 80, Eckerd 72                
RECORDS: Nova Southeastern 17-3, 12-1 SSC, Eckerd 12-8, 7-6 SSC                
LOCATION: McArthur Center | St. Petersburg, Fla.                
GET SOCIAL: Instagram & Twitter – NSU_WBasketball          
        

How it Happened

First Half – Points from Kailyn Terrell, India Shepherd, and Kane put the Sharks up 10-2 five minutes into the game. A three-pointer from the Tritons cut the Sharks lead to six points as NSU headed to the second quarter with a 20-14 lead. In what began as a back-and-forth affair, the Tritons took a 25-24 lead with 6:50 left in the quarter. Nicole Scales answered with back-to-back three-pointers, putting the Sharks back up five. Jess Moors closed out the quarter with a layup, as the Sharks held onto a 32-28 lead going into the halftime break.  

Second Half – Kyarrah Grant closed out an 18-point quarter for NSU with a layup, as the Sharks clung onto a three-point lead going into the fourth quarter. The intensity picked up in the fourth quarter with Eckerd clawing their way back and tying the match at 58 a piece, ultimately forcing overtime.  Shepherd would keep the Sharks alive in OT, knocking down a three-pointer with 25 seconds left to tie the match at 68 and force OT number two. The Sharks came out aggressive in the second OT and won the game at the free throw line, knocking down six straight free throws to secure the 80-72 SSC victory over the Eckerd Tritons. 

Shark Standouts       

Morgan Kane: 23 points, 16 rebounds 

Nicole Scales: 18 points, five rebounds 

Kailyn Terrell: 12 points, three 3PM 

Coach's Corner

Head Coach LeAnn Freeland-Curry: Our players pulled out an impressive road win today. Eckerd played a great game and executed a solid game plan. Unfortunately. we were unable to contain their point guard Lauryn Viera as we did in our home win. Even though we were in foul trouble for most of the game, our players stayed the course and maintained their composure for the full fifty minutes to seal the double-overtime win. 

What's Next            
            
Nova Southeastern will return to the Shark Tank on Wednesday, February 7th to take on Florida Tech in another SSC matchup. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.   

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Sharks Win 14th Straight, Defeats Lynn

BOCA RATON, Fla. – Strong defense from the Nova Southeastern women’s basketball team led the Sharks to their 14th straight victory, taking down Lynn on Wednesday evening from the de Hoernle Sports and Cultural Center.  
 

Breakdown       
       
SCORE: Nova Southeastern 58, Lynn 36               
RECORDS: Nova Southeastern 16-3, 11-1 SSC, Lynn 12-8, 7-5 SSC               
LOCATION: de Hoernle Sports and Cultural Center | Boca Raton, Fla.               
GET SOCIAL: Instagram & Twitter – NSU_WBasketball         
       

How it Happened

First Half – Lynn came out strong, scoring the first four points of the game before six straight points from Aubrey Stupp, and Morgan Kane put the Sharks up two. Both teams hunkered down defensively throughout the rest of the quarter as the Sharks held on to a 12-11 lead heading into the second quarter. At the 7:40 mark, Nicole Scales jumpstarted a 16-2 run for NSU, capping off a 20-4 quarter over the Fighting Knights, as they headed into halftime.  

Second Half – The Sharks defense continued to wreak havoc as a steal from India Shepherd led to a three-pointer on the other end by Kailyn Terrell, extending NSU’s lead to 37-17. With one minute left to play in the third, Scales would close out the quarter with a layup, giving the Sharks a 49-26 lead heading into the final frame. NSU kept their foot on the gas in the fourth quarter, ultimately securing the 58-36 SSC victory over the Lynn Fighting Knights. 

Shark Standouts      

Nicole Scales: 13 points, two blocks 

Aubrey Stupp: 11 points  

India Shepherd: 10 points, eight rebounds 

Coach's Corner

Head Coach LeAnn Freeland-Curry: Our players played great team defense today to hold a very powerful Lynn team to their season low. It was a very physical game for forty minutes and we did a great job controlling our emotions to secure the win. 

What's Next           
           
Nova Southeastern will be back in action Saturday, February 3rd as they head to St. Petersburg, Fla. to take on Eckerd College in another SSC Showdown. Tip-off is set for 2:00 p.m. EST.

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