Women’s Basketball Falls in Elite Eight Quarterfinals in Overtime

Sharks overcome nine-point deficit in regulation to force extra frame

For the second time in three years, the Nova Southeastern University women’s basketball team forced overtime, but would ultimately be upended in the Elite Eight national quarterfinal round, falling on Tuesday, March 24 at the Sanford Pentagon to California (Pa.), 84-79.

The Sharks (27-6) prolonged their season by overcoming a nine-point deficit with 5:40 left, as they trailed the Vulcans (30-4) 69-60 at that point, the game’s biggest spread. To tie it and play extra basketball, they ended regulation on a 12-3 run .

Highlights during that span including back-to-back layups by Jasmine Wilkins (R-Sr., Miami), followed by another close-in shot from her at 2:26. She would foul out with 1:50 to go, but Kayla Wright (So., Lauderhill, Fla.) picked up the slack in the post, with a layup of her own at 1:39 making it a two-point game, and a free throw with 32 seconds remaining cutting it to one, 71-70.

Cal U’s Miki Glenn would hit 1-of-2 on the next possession, but Danielle Robinson (Sr., Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) got the rebound on the second miss and took it the other way. The ball would eventually find its way into the hands of Monaye Merritt (R-Jr., Philadelphia), fouled with 9.9 seconds to go. She calmly made both from the charity stripe to tie the game at 72-72, and then stripped the ball away from Glenn to send the game into another frame.

Neither team dented the scoreboard for the first two minutes of overtime, before Kaitlynn Fratz of Cal U hit a 3-pointer. That was immediately answered by Robinson, who banked in her wing attempt at 2:41 for the game’s 15th and final tie. The Vulcans scored the next five points to lead 85-80, but Alexis Murphy (Jr., Carlisle, Ohio) hit a driving shot at 1:36 to make it yet again a one-possession game.

Cal U hit an ensuing basket, and Wright was again able to respond with 50.1 seconds on the clock, cutting the Shark deficit to three at 82-79. The NSU defense forced a miss, but the Vulcans were able to do the same. With under 15 seconds to go, two missed free throws gave the Sharks a chance still down three, but a steal by Emma Mahady and runout layup sealed the deal.

The season-ending loss also marks the end of two distinguished Shark careers by Robinson and Wilkins. They combined for 37 points and 15 rebounds in the loss. Robinson had 20 points, making both of her 3-point attempts, along with seven boards and four assists. Wilkins was 7-of-9 from the field for 17 points and had eight rebounds.

Merritt and Wright joined the senior duo in double digits in scoring. Merritt had 12 points and added six rebounds, while Wright, in her first game action since Feb. 7, was 5-of-8 for 11 points and also had seven boards. Murphy had seven points, three rebounds and four assists; Molly Blomer (Jr., West Chester, Ohio) had six points; and Jessica Valley (R-Jr., Lafayette, Ind.) led all players in the game with nine rebounds.

The Sharks outshot Cal U, 43.1 percent to 41.7, and outrebounded them 52-42. The Vulcans’ advantage came at the free throw line, making five more in 13 more attempts, while also forcing 21 Shark turnovers.

Mahady had 24 points for Cal U, with Fratz adding 21 and Miki Glenn 17. They move on to the national semifinals to play the winner of Emporia State and West Texas A&M.