KISSIMMEE, Fla. – Beginning the 2015 Sunshine State Conference Basketball Championship Tournament, the Saint Leo women's basketball team fell 87-54 to the top-seeded Nova Southeastern University in the Silver Spurs Arena on Thursday.
The Lions conclude the season 9-18 while the No. 25 Sharks advance to the SSC semifinals with a 22-5 overall record.
Guard Kinnara Lewis led the scoring for the Green and Gold, posting 17 points while grabbing a pair of boards. The senior shot 67% from the field and was 5-for-7 from beyond the arc. Sophomore Aaliyah Ramirez added 11 points with a team-high five rebounds. Freshman Abby Peterson notched five boards to tie Ramirez as the Lions concluded their 2014-15 season in tournament fashion.
The Sharks were led by Danielle Robinson, as the All-SSC First Team selection netted 24 points while conference Player of the Year Jasmine Wilkins added 16 with nine boards.
Senior Lewis led the charge in the opening minutes, scoring 11 point in the first 10 minutes. The guard passed the baton to Melissa Jackson, as the forward rolled to eight points in the final minutes of play as Saint Leo entered the half behind 40-31 to the top-seeded Sharks. Sophomore Ramirez added four points and three rebounds while Jackson muscled three boards to her credit.
NSU pulled ahead in the second half, as the Sharks went on a 13-0 run in the second half to stifle the Saint Leo offense. Nova Southeastern rolled to a 87-54 win behind the efforts of Robinson and Wilkins.
The Green and Gold ends the season eighth in the Sunshine State Conference with a 9-18 overall tally in head coach West's first year at the helm.
For more information on the Saint Leo women's basketball program, visit SaintLeoLions.com. Fans can also stay up-to-date on the latest Lions news by following Saint Leo Athletics on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
