Box Score
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The fourth-seeded Eckerd College women's basketball team could not keep fifth-seeded Nova Southeastern University off the boards on Wednesday night at the McArthur Center, as the Tritons fell to the Sharks in Sunshine State Conference Tournament quarterfinal action, 72-56.
Eckerd was outrebounded 48-27 in the first-round matchup as Nova sophomore guard Jessica Russi accounted for 15 boards and led all scorers with 21 points.
The Tritons finish up the season with a 15-11 overall record and 8-8 in conference play as they send off seniors
Linsey Niles,
Kati Rausberg and
Taylor Young, in their final game donning the Eckerd College jersey.
The Sharks came out fast in the beginning of the first half, leading 12-5 in the first five minutes of play. Nova would extend its lead to nine points as Sharks' senior Quinessa Johnson hit a pair of free throws at the 12:09 mark.
Nova shot 88 percent from the free throw line on the night (21-24).
The Sharks then went on a 18-10 run to close out the final nine minutes of play, putting Nova up 40-30 at the half way point.
Eckerd could not break the double-digit lead the entire second half, as the Sharks kept their foot on the gas, extending the lead to as much as 20 points late in the final stanza.
Junior
Krystal Charles led the Tritons with 17 points. The seniors Niles, Rausberg and Young, combined for 30 points in their final game at the McArthur Center.
Rausberg hit the final three-pointer of her illustrious career with 11:43 left in the second half. She finishes her career with 236 three-pointers made while shooting 44.4 percent from behind the three-point arc, both career program records.
Young finishes up her three-year career as a Triton with 694 points, ranking 19th on the all-time scoring list at Eckerd College while averaging 8.6 points per game in her career.
In two seasons,
Linsey Niles accumulated 346 points and 274 rebounds in 55 games played. Niles led the Tritons this season with 6.6 rebounds per game and tied for second in scoring with 10.1 points per game.
