FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - Despite trailing for the majority of the game, the Eckerd women's basketball team managed to stay within striking distance of a talented Nova Southeastern team and took the game with a thrilling last-second 3-pointer by
Yarden Danan at the Rick Case Arena Wednesday night.
Eckerd finally pulled ahead early in the fourth quarter before the teams traded baskets over the next several minutes. The Tritons held a three-point lead inside a minute to go before Nova Southeastern nailed a game-tying 3-pointer with 12 seconds left.
Eckerd raced down the floor where
Octavia Loll attempted a 3-pointer but missed short. The rebound was deflected out of the lane where Danan collected the ball on the left wing. She shook off a defender with a shot fake, took one dribble to her left, and sunk a 3-pointer as time expired for the buzzer-beating win.
HOW IT ENDED
Final: Eckerd 59, Nova Southeastern 56
Records: Eckerd 9-4 (4-2 SSC), Nova Southeastern 7-7 (3-4 SSC)
KEY MOMENTS
- After the Sharks scored the first basket of the game, Eckerd went on a 9-0 run over the next three minutes. Nova Southeastern followed with an 11-2 run of over the final six minutes of the quarter as the Sharks took a 12-11 lead to end the quarter.
- Eckerd's offense continued its cold spell to start the second quarter as the Sharks went ahead by five before Danan knocked down a 3-pointer at the 7:14 mark. The Sharks maintained a two-possession lead through the next six minutes; however, the Tritons went on a 7-3 run in the final minute to trail by two (30-28) at the half.
- EC's offense faced another slow start to open the second half as the Sharks went on a 9-0 run over the first five minutes of the third quarter. The Tritons bounce back with a 9-0 run to end the quarter to pull within two points.
- The final quarter remained tight throughout. After an early 3-pointer by the Sharks, Eckerd went on a 6-0 run capped by a Zoe Richards layup with 6:54 left for its first lead since the opening quarter. NSU scored two consecutive buckets to regain the lead before six straight points from Richards gave EC a three-point lead with just under five minutes left. Over the next two minutes, the teams traded baskets evening the score twice before Eckerd took a five-point lead with a 1:25 left.
- After a Sharks layup, Eckerd held a three-point lead with 48 seconds left. Following a timeout, the Tritons ran down the clock in the final minute but missed on their 3-point attempt. The Sharks raced down the court setting up Alison Hughes to quickly hit the game-tying 3-pointer with 12 seconds left. With five seconds left, Loll's 3-pointer attempt missed but Danan picked up the loose ball off the rebound and drained the game-winner as the final horn sounded.
NOTES AND NUMBERS
- Danan's game-winning 3-pointer wasn't the only time Eckerd has won at NSU on a buzzer-beater. In 2013, Taylor Bestry's 3-pointer beat the horn and lifted Eckerd to a 63-61 win over the then-No. 20 Sharks.
- Johnson led all scorers with 18 points while Richards and Danan rounded out the double-figure scorers with 13 and 10 points respectively.
- Loll led the Tritons on the boards with seven rebounds while Richards grabbed six.
- After two straight games shooting over 50 percent, Eckerd shot 38.5 percent from the floor and 38.5 percent from beyond the arc while the Sharks shot 42.0 percent from the floor and 22.2 percent from beyond the arc.
- Eckerd has won four of its last five contests against Nova Southeastern.
UP NEXT
Eckerd returns to action Saturday hosting Rollins for a 2:00 PM tip.
