
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Nova Southeastern Women’s basketball team finds themselves in a matchup against a familiar foe as they are set to take on the #18 ranked Tampa Spartans in Thursday night’s SSC Semifinal. The last time the Sharks faced the Spartans in the postseason was in last year’s NCAA South Region Championship, where NSU suffered a heartbreaking 56-63 loss.
On Tuesday night, Head Coach LeAnn Freeland-Curry led her squad to an opening-round victory over the six-seeded Palm Beach Atlantic Sailfish. Jess Moors was at the forefront of the Sharks offensive attack, leading NSU with 16 points while also accumulating four steals.
Nova Southeastern (24-5, 16-4 SSC)
Last Game: Nova Southeastern 65, Palm Beach Atlantic 49 (SSC Quarterfinals)
NSU kicked off 2025 with an impressive 63-53 victory over the Tampa Spartans. All-SSC first-team selection Aubrey Stupp led the Sharks with a game-high 24 points, while Jess Moors and Dash Shaw also eclipsed double digits, scoring 12 and 10 points, respectively.
In the second matchup of the regular season, it was all Tampa as they secured a dominant 69-52 win over the Sharks. Zoe Pillar made her presence felt, scoring 17 points and grabbing seven boards.
Tampa Spartans (26-5, 17-3 SSC) | Co-Sunshine State Conference regular season champions
Last Game: Tampa 77, Lynn 62 (SSC Quarterfinals)
Head Coach Tom Jessee guided the Spartans to a share of the 2024-25 SSC regular season championship. The all-time winningest coach in the program’s history looks to lead his squad back to the SSC Championship after the Spartans dropped last year’s Sunshine State Conference final matchup against the Eckerd Tritons 65-57.
Tampa took care of business in round one on their home floor, defeating the Lynn Fighting Knights on Tuesday night at the Bob Martinez Athletics Center in Tampa.
Zoe Pillar, Sariana Rodriguez, and Audrey Ramsey all made the All-SSC team for the Spartans, landing on the first, second, and third teams, respectively. Pillar has had herself quite the year, ranking third in the conference in scoring (17.0) and first in field goal percentage (61%). Rodriguez, another focal point in the Spartans offensive attack, ranks second on the team in scoring at 10.6 points per game. Ramsey closes out the three-headed dragon for Tampa as the lead playmaker, ranking fourth in the conference at 4.3 assists per game.
A rivalry like no other. A matchup you wouldn’t want to miss. The Sunshine State Conference Semifinals coming to you soon. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 PM at Bob Martinez Athletics Center in Tampa.
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