Florida Tech Falls 73-65 to Nova Southeastern in Non-Conference Women’s Action
MELBOURNE, Fla.- The Florida Tech Panthers (6-3) unable to gain control at the end despite their valiant effort in the final minute of play fell 73-65
against the Nova Southeastern Sharks (4-3). Junior guard Danielle Vaughn (Tallahassee, Fla.) led all scorers with 20 points pacing the Panthers to their
non-conference loss against the Sharks this evening at the Clemente Center. Vaughn also added seven boards, four assists and a game high four steals for
the women’s basketball game.
The Sharks led most of the first half in a battle between rivals Nova Southeastern and Florida Tech. NSU was up by as much as nine points at 13:35 left on
the clock. The Panthers retaliated and took the lead at 9:50 with a three-point shot by sophomore guard Amanda Muns (Chico, Tex.) with the score showing
16-15 on the board. In the next three possessions neither Tech nor Nova Southeastern could hold on to the ball turning it over three times. Junior forward
Jennifer Havens (Ontario, Ore.) made a bad pass for the Sharks allowing Vaughn to drive on the fast break for the lay-up. This pushed Tech ahead by three
proving to be the highest lead the Panthers could control in the half.
The Sharks would eventually bring their lead to nine again at 2:00 minutes left off a shot in the paint by sophomore guard Amber Bishko (Orlando, Fla.)
with a score of 26-33. Vaughn would notch two more lay-ups for the Panthers, while the Shark’s sophomore guard Ashley Wilson (Coral Springs, Fla.) would
hit both from the line to bring the score to 28-35. Tech would grab the final basket in the half off a lay-up inside from junior center Danise Fequiere
(Miami, Fla.).
The Panthers shot 42.9% (12-for-28) from the field while Nova Southeastern edged Tech shooting 48.0% (12-for-25) in the first half. Both teams were even
under the boards with each pulling down 17 rebounds for the first 20 minutes. Nova Southeastern blew away Tech at the line shooting a perfect 8-for-8,
while Tech shot a disappointing 4-for-11 in free throws opening up the game.
Returning from the locker room, Tech came on strong controlling the first four minutes in the half scoring seven of the eight buckets. The Panthers allowed
only one shot by senior guard Missy Guadagnino (Winter Spring, Florida). Sophomore point guard Tenisha Chase (Temple Hills, Md.) was the main reason for
this early lead scoring four of the seven points.
Coming off the bench, freshman forward Sabrina Jones (Orlando, Fla.) sank the next two for the Panthers at 15:00 and 14:29 respectively to put Tech up by
five 46 to 41. Unfortunately, this would be their highest lead of the second half.
Another key reservist freshman guard Kailey Dettman (Sarasota, Fla.) was able to knot it up55-to-59 at 5:18 on the clock hitting one from the arc. This
would prove to be the final drive by the Panthers and eventually finished eight points down after playing the “fouling game” the final minute of the
contest.
For the Sharks, Guadagnino finished with her team high fifteen points and added eight assists and three steals. Bishko and Havens both chipped in 12
points. Defensively, freshman forward Eliza Allen (Hegenheim, France) with eleven boards.
For Tech Chase pitched in he career high 16 points and tallied five assists, one block and one steal. Under the boards, junior center Shante Johnson pulled
down seven rebounds. Muns finished with her career high12 points and had two assists and two steals to round off the Panthers.
Tech will be on the road in two weeks after taking a week off for final exams traveling to Savannah, Georgia to face NCAA II South Region foe Armstrong
Atlantic in a double header with the men’s team with tip-off at 5:30 p.m. on Decemeber 20th.
