TAMPA, Fla. – The No. 13 Eckerd women's basketball team makes its sixth straight trip to the NCAA South Regional Tournament on Friday when the second-seed Tritons take on the seventh-seeded Nova Southeastern at 2:30 PM in the second game of the day.
Friday: No. 2 Eckerd vs. No. 7 Nova Southeastern | 2:30 PM | Bob Martinez Center | Live Stats | Live Video | Program | Tournament Website
ABOUT THE TRITONS
- Eckerd (24-5) sat steady at the No. 2 spot in the regional polls throughout the season and solidified an at-large bid to the national tournament.
- The Tritons opened the season with an 8-1 mark, including two wins over nationally-ranked opponents. EC posted an 18-2 record in Sunshine State Conference play. The 18 SSC wins set a program record.
- Eckerd has set numerous records throughout the season. The team set the single-season 3-pointer made record at 254, while Hannah Wentworth broke the individual record at 76. Lauryn Vieira set the single-season assists mark at 186, and Maya Price broke the career blocks record at 118.
- Sofia Persson and Maya Price were named to the All-SSC First team last week. Persson averages 17.4 points and 7.7 rebounds, while Price averages 15.1 points and 7.5 rebounds per game.
- Lauryn Vieira was selected as the SSC Defensive Player of the Year for the second straight year. She leads the team with 2.4 steals per game while averaging 9.3 points, 6.4 assists, and 5.3 rebounds per game.
- Wentworth and Nicole Scales also average double-figures with 11.8 and 11.2 points per game, respectively.
- EC's offense has been one of the best in the nation this year, ranking 10th in 3-pointers per game (9.0), 12th in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.21), 13th in assists per game (17.0), 13th in field goal percentage (45.8), and 21st in scoring offense (74.6).
ABOUT THE SHARKS
- Nova Southeastern (21-8) sat in the bottom half of the South Region poll throughout the season and solidified the No. 7 slot. They dropped their opening round game of the SSC Tournament to Florida Southern, 69-67.
- The Sharks have two players averaging double figures, Madison Frederick and Hailey Conley, who average 17.4 and 13.9 points per game, respectively. Frederick also averages 7.7 rebounds per game. Frederick also leads the team in steals and assists.
- NSU ranks 11th in the nation in scoring offense (77.7) and 17th in field goal percentage (45.2)
NOTES AND NUMBERS
- This is the third meeting of the season between Eckerd and Nova Southeastern and the second meeting in the last two weeks. Eckerd won the game in overtime on the road, 93-83, on December 3. The Tritons swept the series with an 80-63 victory at home on February 22.
- It is Eckerd's seventh program appearance on the national stage and the Sharks' eighth appearance. EC is appearing for the sixth straight year.
- Eckerd has also produced its sixth straight 20-win season.
- The winner of the game will face the winner of the No. 3-No. 6 seed matchup between Union (Tenn.)/Valdosta State (Ga.) Saturday at 5:00 PM.
