WINTER PARK, Fla. (Jan. 13, 2010) - Nova Southeastern University women's basketball team fell 66-54 to Rollins on in a Sunshine State Conference game Wednesday evening at Warden Arena. The Sharks are now 9-7 on the season and 2-3 in the SSC. Rollins improves to 10-4 overall and 3-1 in conference play.

NSU led throughout the beginning of the game. The Sharks were up by five on three different occasions, including 11-6 on a Rheisa Burke (Fr., Port Charlotte, Fla.) layup at 15:13.

Rollins ultimately tied the game and went ahead 15-13 as Brittany Daiger hit both free throws at 9:49. The Sharks regained a slim one-point, 16-15 advantage on an Abbie Tepe (Jr., Cincinnati, Ohio) three-pointer with 8:05 left in the half. However, Rollins used another pair of Daiger foul shots to retake the lead at 7:46. Although NSU forced two ties, the Tars gradually began to pull away and headed into halftime with a 36-26 lead.

Trailing by as many as 12 early in the second half, the Sharks ultimately cut the deficit down to four. Lindsey Newpher (Sr., Depew, Okla.) and Tepe hit back-to-back threes to make it 40-36 in favor of Rollins with 15:43 left in the game.

However, the Tars used several runs en route to pulling away from NSU. Rollins took its largest lead of the game on a Kristina Mingos layup as the Tars held an 18-point, 58-40 advantage with 6:32 to go.

NSU chipped away at Rollins' lead, but the closest the Sharks could get was 10 as LaShawnna Edwards hit a foul shot to make it 62-52 with 53 seconds remaining.

NSU was 17-for-54 from the floor and shot 31.5 percent. The Sharks also tallied 33 rebounds. Rollins shot 43.4 percent (23-for-53) and had 38 rebounds.

Tepe led the Sharks with 16 points. Edwards grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds.

Daiger tallied a game-high 18 points and a team-high nine rebounds for Rollins.

NSU returns to action on Saturday at rival Barry. Tip off is scheduled for 2 p.m.