#20 Panthers Earn the Three-peat Defeating Nova Southeastern

MELBOURNE, Fla.-(women’s basketball) Florida Tech (21-4, 13-2) defeated Nova Southeastern (9-17, 7-8) today at the Clemente Center shutting down the Sharks
for the third time this season 44-33 in a low scoring game. They defeated the Sharks earlier in a non-conference game 77-70 and an SSC match 79-61 both on
the road. With the win, the Panthers have at least clinched a piece of the 2007 Sunshine State Conference title still having to face SSC foe Rollins on
Wednesday. If they win they will win the title out right if they fall they may have to share a piece of the title with Rollins who still has two SSC games
left.

Senior Danielle Vaughn (Tallahassee, Fla.) led the way for Tech scoring a team high 13 points coming off the bench. Vaughn was the only one hitting her
shots in the first half heading into the locker room leading all scorers with nine. Vaughn added six rebounds.

One of the five seniors on the squad Vaughn was aware that this was their final conference game at home.

Fellow seniors Jen Tamilio (Boston, Mass.), Shante Johnson (Orlando, Fla.), Kristi Harrell (Melbourne, Fla.) and Danise Fequiere (Miami, Fla.) were all
aware of the finality of the night. Even though Tech has one more home contest it is not an SSC game.

The key to Tech’s win tonight was defense, despite the Sharks losing Amber Bishko (Orlando, Fla.) early in the game to an elbow injury the Panthers were
able to shut down the one threat that has been a tough contender for the Panthers all year in two-time SSC Player of the Week Jennifer Havens (Ontario,
Ore.). Havens has combined for 44 points in the last two games against Tech including a career high 29 notch last month. Today the crimson and gray
defenders kept her to only one point.

Tamilio contributed 12 points for Tech all in the second half hitting two key three point tickets. Tamilio had seven boards helping the Panthers
out-rebound the Sharks by 14 for the day 44-to-30.

Another threat was junior Casselle Russell (Miami, Fla.) leading all players with eight rebounds chipping in two steals.

Junior Kristin Heminger (Merritt Island, Fla.) added nine points going 3-for-6 from downtown.

Local Titusville standout Mechelle Jones led all scorers for the Sharks with 17 points.

The Panthers will be back in action on Wednesday, February 21st facing Rollins on the road for their final SSC game. For more coverage of today’s game
check out Carl Kotala’s story at the Florida Today website at
http://www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070218/SPORTS/702180360/1002/SPORTS
.

Newspaper Box Score
Nova Southeastern vs Florida Tech
02/17/07 2:00pm at Melbourne, Fla. (Clemente Center)

FLORIDA TECH 44, NOVA SOUTHEASTERN 33

NOVA SOUTHEASTERN (9-17, 7-8)
JONES, Mechelle 6-16 3-3 17; BISHKO, Amber 2-5 0-0 4; WILSON, Ashley 2-7 0-0
4; ALLEN, Eliza 1-5 1-1 3; BAIN, Fabienne 1-3 1-2 3; GREEN, Brittany 0-1 1-2
1; HAVENS, Jennifer 0-2 1-2 1; EDWARDS, LaShawnna 0-1 0-0 0; HABER,
Christine 0-0 0-2 0; EVENSON, Tia 0-4 0-0 0. Totals 12-44 7-12 33.

FLORIDA TECH (21-4, 13-2)
VAUGHN, Danielle 5-10 2-2 13; TAMILIO, Jennifer 4-13 2-4 12; HEMINGER,
Kristin 3-12 0-0 9; HARRELL, Kristi 2-10 0-0 5; JONES, Sabrina 2-2 1-2 5;
MUNS, Amanda 0-1 0-0 0; CRIMI, Kassie 0-2 0-0 0; GREENE, Lindsay 0-0 0-0 0;
FEQUIERE, Danise 0-0 0-0 0; RUSSELL, Casselle 0-2 0-0 0; JOHNSON, Shante 0-1
0-0 0; RICHARDSON, McKena 0-3 0-0 0; CHASE, Tenisha 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 16-56
5-8 44.

Nova Southeastern…………. 19 14 – 33
Florida Tech……………… 18 26 – 44

3-point goals–Nova Southeastern 2-17 (JONES, Mechelle 2-9; WILSON, Ashley
0-1; ALLEN, Eliza 0-3; EVENSON, Tia 0-4), Florida Tech 7-19 (HEMINGER,
Kristin 3-6; TAMILIO, Jennifer 2-5; HARRELL, Kristi 1-4; VAUGHN, Danielle
1-3; MUNS, Amanda 0-1). Fouled out–Nova Southeastern-None, Florida
Tech-None. Rebounds–Nova Southeastern 30 (BAIN, Fabienne 7), Florida Tech
44 (RUSSELL, Casselle 8). Assists–Nova Southeastern 6 (EVENSON, Tia 2;
ALLEN, Eliza 2; BAIN, Fabienne 2), Florida Tech 12 (RICHARDSON, McKena 3;
HARRELL, Kristi 3). Total fouls–Nova Southeastern 13, Florida Tech 14.
Technical fouls–Nova Southeastern-None, Florida Tech-None. A-489