Box Score FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – After trailing by 19 in the first half, the Eckerd College women's basketball team fought hard to come back, but fell in overtime on Wednesday to No. 24 Nova Southeastern, 69-66.
Victoria Vine dropped in the first bucket of the game before the Sharks offense scored 16 unanswered points. Down 14 early, three pointers from Vine and
Rana Thomas helped cut the lead to eight, midway through the first 20 minutes of play.
Nova took control of the first half with their second run of the game scoring 11 consecutive points to go up 31-12. Eckerd was not going away with
Kayla Bowlin and Thomas combining to drop nine points in two and a half minutes. NSU hit a jumper before the end of the half sending EC into the locker room trailing by 13, down 33-20.
The second half quickly turned into a prize fight with Eckerd scoring the first nine points making it a four point ball game. Bowlin was able to send a pass over to Thomas in the corner who knocked down an open three to tie the game at 39-39.
Both teams answered the other ones bucket with one of their own.
Margaret Sundberg drove the lane for a layup giving her team a three point lead with just over eight minutes to play. The Sharks stayed right there with them knotting it back up at 52-52. NSU grabbed a three point lead with two and half minutes left on the clock when Thomas knocked down yet another trey making it 55-55. EC held a one point lead with 30 seconds left in regulation when Nova's Kayla Wright hit one of her free throws essentially sending the game into overtime.
The Sharks took an early lead in OT going up by four, 65-61. Thomas answered back with four straight points as the back and forth slugfest continued. NSU hit two free throws to go out in front 67-65. The Tritons were unable to comeback from the final blow falling, 69-66.
Thomas ended the night with 28 points going 5 for 9 from three point land. Bowlin finished with 12 points while dishing out six assists and grabbing three steals.
Trine Kasemagi also finished in double digits with 11 points.
The game marks the first time this season Eckerd (15-7, 5-6) has suffered back to back losses. The Tritons will host Lynn University (7-12, 1-9) on Saturday with tip-off scheduled for 2 p.m.
