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Panthers Sink Sharks in Conference Contest

Gudlaug JuliusdottirPhoto Credit: James Ragan Photography

The Florida Tech Panthers got a big win on the road Saturday, taking down the Nova Southeastern Sharks 74-60 in a Sunshine State Conference women’s basketball game.

Florida Tech shot 42.2 percent from the field (27-of-64) while holding NSU to 37.3 percent (22-of-59). They converted 18-of-23 free-throws and forced 19 Sharks turnovers, scoring 16 points off those mistakes.

Delise Williams led the Panthers with 20 points, followed closely by Gudlaug Juliusdottir’s 18. Juliusdottir, who averages seven points a game finished 8-of-10 from the field and had a team-high four assists. Kailyn Ebb had a double-double in this one, contributing 15 points and a team-high 11 rebounds.

The Panthers (4-4, 2-2 SSC) outrebounded the Sharks 50-29, including a 21-10 advantage on the offensive glass. That turned into a 20-13 advantage for the Panthers in second-chance points.

After Sharks leading scorer Kayla Wright got her team on the board to start the game, the Panthers went on a 7-0 run highlighted by a three from Williams and four straight points by Tanease Richardson. Alison Hughes answered with a three for NSU, but the Panthers widened the lead out to 13-7, but the Sharks made a run at the end of the quarter and led 19-18.

The second quarter was a back-and-forth affair with the Panthers leading 32-25 before NSU made another late charge to cut the lead to 32-30 at the break.

After tying the game at 32 on a Wright Layup to start the third, the Sharks watched Florida Tech go on an 11-0 run, getting balanced scoring during the spurt. Hughes hit another three with 6:23 to go in the quarter, cutting the lead to 43-35.

The Sharks (4-4, 2-2 SSC) cut the lead to five points three times in that third quarter, but the Panthers got it back up to nine, 57-48 as the third quarter expired.

Florida Tech opened the fourth quarter with a 7-2 run, including a three-point play by Williams and led 64-50 with 8:07 left. Nova reeled off five straight points to cut into the lead, but Florida Tech regained their footing and expanded the lead to 15 on an Ebb layup, 70-55 with 2:11 to go.

Two free-throws for Ebb with 1:14 left pushed the lead to 74-56, the largest lead the Panthers had all day. Nova couldn’t do much in the time remaining and the Panthers stole a conference victory.

For more info: Florida Tech @ Nova Southeastern Box Score 

The Panthers will return to the court Monday, December 18th in the Tampa Classic. They will take on Malone University at noon. On Tuesday, they will take on Southern Wesleyan on Tuesday, at 2:00 p.m.