MIAMI SHORES, Fla.—The Barry Buccaneers fell 76-68 to the Nova Southeastern Sharks in Sunshine State Conference women’s basketball action in the Health & Sports Center on Saturday.
Barry (9-7, 1-4 SSC) watched the Sharks (12-3, 4-2 SSC) build a 17-6 lead at the 12:24 mark in the first period after a layup by Monaye Merritt. But the Bucs stormed back with a 14-0 run to lead 20-17 after an Amra Elezovic three-pointer with 7:49 left to play. The Sharks recovered to carry a 36-30 lead into the break.
In the second half, the Sharks quickly built a 43-32 lead after Alexis Murphy’s layup at 17:45. Barry cut the lead back to six on a three-pointer by Ashley Lutz at 15:32, but the Sharks again went on a run and built a 55-42 advantage, their biggest of the game, at 11:31 on a three-point play by Danielle Robinson.
Trailing 68-58 with 4:04 left, Barry mounted a last comeback attempt and closed to just four points, 72-68, on a free throw by Lynae Richardson with 1:01 to play. But Jackie Perez, Antonia Neibler and Nyjah Porcher all fouled out in the last minute and the Sharks converted four of six from the line, while the Bucs failed to score.
Kaylia Richardson had a career-high 26 points, while Neibler added 12 for Barry. Jessica Valley paced the Sharks with 17 points and eight rebounds. Robinson chipped in 15 and Merritt added 14.
The Bucs play on the road the next two games, at Lynn on Jan. 21 and at Eckerd on Jan. 24, before returning home to face the Tampa Spartans on Jan. 28 at 5:30 pm.
Newspaper Box Score
Nova Southeastern vs Barry
01/17/15 2:00 pm at Miami Shores, FL
NOVA SOUTHEASTERN 76, BARRY 68
NOVA SOUTHEASTERN (12-3, 4-2 SSC)
VALLEY, Jessica 7-10 2-5 17; ROBINSON, Danielle 5-9 4-6 15; MERRITT, Monaye 3-6 8-9 14; MURPHY, Alexis 1-2 5-6 7; BLOMER, Molly 2-3 0-0 6; RODRIGUEZ, Winter 1-3 2-2 5; WILKINS, Jasmine 1-6 2-4 4; WRIGHT, Kayla 2-6 0-0 4; BARNARD, Katie 1-1 0-0 2; MARTIN, Hayley 1-1 0-0 2; HIRT, Mary 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 24-48 23-32 76.
BARRY (9-7, 1-4 SSC)
RICHARDSON, Kaylia 9-15 8-10 26; NEIBLER, Antonia 4-9 0-0 12; LUTZ, Ashley 3-8 0-0 8; RICHARDSON, Lynae 3-7 1-2 8; PORCHER, Nyjah 2-3 1-2 5; ELEZOVIC, Amra 2-4 0-0 5; PEREZ, Jackie 1-6 1-2 4; BRITTEN, Kaila 0-3 0-0 0. Totals 24-55 11-16 68.
Nova Southeasten.............. 36 40 - 76
Barry............................... 30 38 - 68
3-point goals—Nova Southeasten 5-10 (BLOMER, Molly 2-3; ROBINSON, Danielle 1-3; RODRIGUEZ, Winter 1-1; VALLEY, Jessica 1-1; WILKINS, Jasmine 0-1; MURPHY, Alexis 0-1), Barry 9-16 (NEIBLER, Antonia 4-5; LUTZ, Ashley 2-3; PEREZ, Jackie 1-5; RICHARDSON, Lynae 1-2; ELEZOVIC, Amra 1-1). Fouled out—Nova Southeasten-None, Barry-NEIBLER, Antonia; PORCHER, Nyjah; PEREZ, Jackie. Rebounds—Nova Southeasten 34 (VALLEY, Jessica 8; WILKINS, Jasmine 8), Barry 25 (PEREZ, Jackie 5; RICHARDSON, Kaylia 5). Assists—Nova Southeasten 11 (MERRITT, Monaye 3), Barry 19 (PEREZ, Jackie 6). Total fouls—Nova Southeasten 18, Barry 24. Technical fouls—Nova Southeasten-None, Barry-PORCHER, Nyjah. A-101