SSC Title Run Comes To An End For Spartans With Semifinal Loss To Nova

Tampa, Fla. – The University of Tampa Women's Basketball team hosted the semifinal round of the Sunshine State Conference Tournament. The No. 2 seeded Spartans went to battle with No. 3 seed Nova Southeastern Sharks. These two teams split their regular season series and were looking to break the tie. With a championship game appearance on the line, neither team was going to easily roll over leading to an electric semifinal contest. 

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:

Final Score: #20 Tampa 45, Nova Southeastern 55

Regular Season Records: Tampa 25-5 (17-3 SSC), Nova Southeastern (23-5 16-4 SSC)

Location: Bob Martinez Center l Tampa, Fla.

All-time series: This was the 56th meeting between these two programs. Even with the loss, Tampa leads the all-time series 36-20. 

HOW IT HAPPENED: 

FIRST HALF: Nova came out firing, opening the game by hitting three of their first four shots for an early 7-0 lead. Zoe Piller was able to get to the line and sink a jumper tp put Tampa on the board but the Spartans still had work to do. As the first quarter passed the six minute mark, Tampa was finally able to get a few stops but unable to convert them into points. On the other side, Nova used a forced turnover to hit their second three of the game and take a 10-3 lead. The Tampa defense went on to hold Nova to just two more points in the final minutes of the first quarter with an elite zone defense. In the final minute, Audrey Ramsey and Zoe Piller finally found buckets to revive the Spartans offense. Despite the offensive struggles, Tampa only found themselves down 12-7 to start the second quarter. They started the second quarter strong, holding Nova scoreless for the first two and half minutes and adding an Audrey Ramsey jumper to pull within a possession. However, Tampa went cold again, not getting another bucket the six minutes while Nova grew the lead to 17-9. Kath Van Bennekom was able to get to the line for a pair of free throws as the game quarter crossed into the final five minutes to get Tampa back in the score column. Both teams traded a basket before Olivia Davis hit a huge three pointer to pull the scoreline to 20-15, Nova. After another big defensive stop, Zoe Piller used a good move at the rim to finish a layup and make this contest a one score game once again. With two minutes to go, Nova was able to get a layup to fall but Piller answered right back with another strong take around the rim. Unfortunately for the Spartans, Nova was able to get the last shot of the half and take a six point lead into the break

Score: #20 Tampa 19, Nova Southeastern 25

SECOND HALF: After a first half that saw both teams struggle offensively thanks to great defense, each side knew whoever was able to get on a run first was going to control the rest of this contest. The final twenty minutes began with both teams trading baskets before Zoe Piller and Audrey Ramsey both drew charges to fire up the Tampa bench. The Spartans used these stops plus a few others from the Sharks to give themselves good looks at points. Unfortunately, nothing was falling for Tampa and the Sharks led 27-21 with under six minutes to go in the third quarter. Needing another big stop, Zoe Piller was able to draw another charge in the paint but this time, finished her take off a nice feed from Giorgia Palmieri. Feeding off this momentum, Kath Van Bennekom drained a three ball on the very next possession and the Spartans were only down two. Nova answered to re-extend the lead out to 29-25 but Van Bennekom responded with two big free throws. Both teams traded a basket as the third quarter crossed the three minute mark and neither team could find any separation. Ramsey, Piller, and Palmieri ended the quarter with points but Nova led 38-35 heading into the final ten minutes of play. To begin the fourth quarter, Nova was able to get inside the paint for an easy lay before each team went on a scoring drought. After this opening bucket, neither team allowed a point for nearly four minutes as the scoreline remained 40-35. Nova ended their drought with a three and grew their lead to eight. The Spartans could not get anything to fall for the first seven minutes of the fourth quarter, watching the Shark lead grow to double digits. Olivia Davis ended the drought with a pair of free throws but Tampa was down 46-37 with just over two minutes to go. Giorgia Palmieri tried to spark a comeback with a tough three point play in the paint. Jade Thompson followed her teammate by getting into the paint for a score and the lead was cut to seven with 42.9 left in the game. Tampa began fouling the Sharks hoping to extend the game but were unable to find any more offense. Nova closed out the win by hitting their freebies and the Spartans hopes for another SSC Tounrament Championship came to a close. 

FINAL: #20 Tampa 45, Nova Southeastern 55

INSIDE THE STATS:

• Zoe Piller drops 15 points to lead all scorers

• Seven Spartans recorded at least one made field goal  

• Olivia Davis sets career high with nine total rebounds 

UP NEXT: The Spartans run at another SSC title has come to a close. Tampa will have a few days of practice before the NCAA Selection Show on Sunday, March 9th to see where they will end up in the regional ranking. Stay tuned for further updates as the season continues for the Spartans. 

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