General Dec 06, 2019

Lions Ledger: Basketball hosts Nova Southeastern Saturday

Men's Basketball takes on #2 Sharks to close out finals week

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RECORDS: Saint Leo 4-4, 1-1 SSC | Nova Southeastern 2-4, 0-1 SSC
Saint Leo saw a three-game streak snap at Florida Southern on Wednesday in Lakeland, Fla. The Lions face the Sharks with a 1-1 Sunshine State Conference mark after grabbing an 82-67 win over the Florida Tech Panthers and an 83-63 loss to the Mocs.
As a team, the Lions are shooting a .425-percent from the floor, .384-percent beyond the arc, and a .613-percent at the line, tallying an average of 72.8 points per game. Off the window, the Green and Gold earned 40.9 rebounds per game.
For the Lions, freshman guard, Amanda Ulrich (13.4), Alex Button (13.1), and Alani Gallagher (12.9) spearhead the scoring offense. Ulrich also leads the team in assists with 22 and 10 steals. Gallagher has tallied 12 blocks, as the SSC block leader, and holds a team-high 8.9 rebounds per game.
Nova Southeastern looks to bounce back after an 85-47 loss to #10 Alaska Anchorage on Saturday. The Sharks have seen one conference contest so far, opening the SSC season at Tampa two weekends ago. Tampa, who was receiving votes as the time, handed Nova a heartbreaking 72-70 loss.
Jordan Tully (18.3), Hailey Conley (12.7), and Claire McMahon (11) lead the visitor's scoring. McMahon steps on the floor as this week's SSC Defensive Player of the Week. McMahon averaged 9.5 rebounds, three assists and a blocked shot against Daemen College and #10 Alaska Anchorage.
As a team, the Sharks are shooting .465-percent from the hardwood, recording a .355-percent pace from the three range, sinking .700-percent of free throws, adding up to 68.2 points per game. They normally snag 30.7 rebounds a game.
Both teams look to cut their points off turnovers; Saint Leo has handed opponents 13 while Nova Southeastern averages 13.3.
HISTORY: Last meeting on Saturday, Feb. 9, 2019, Nova completed the season sweep in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. in a 73-62 decision. Last year in the Bowman Center, Nova escape the Lions, 87-85 in an overtime finale. Casey Wortley paced the Lions efforts in that battle with 21 points followed by Gallagher and Gina Brierley with 18 apiece and Olivia Lough with 11.

RECORDS: Saint Leo 6-3, 1-1 SSC | #2 Nova Southeastern 4-0, 1-0 SSC
Saint Leo returns home after an 86-76 defeat at No. 22 Florida Southern to host No. 2 Nova Southeastern Saturday.
In the loss the Mocs, four players scored double-figures led by Gintaras Bartaskas with a Green and Gold career-high 19 points. Isaiah Hill and Kyran McClure added 17 points apiece while Rusty Moorer chipped in 10 off the bench.
McClure is leading the team in scoring on the year with 21.4 points per game with a blazing 94.1% (64-68) free throw mark, which is 22nd in the nation and first in the league.
As a team, the Lions average 75.4 ppg and allow just 64.1 which ranks 19th in the country and is the leagues best scoring defense.
#2 Nova Southeastern comes to the Bowman Center on a four-game win streak after a blowout win over Clayton State, 154-85 where the Sharks scored 96 first half points.
In the win over Clayton State, the Sharks saw seven players score double-figures, led by Nick Smith's 29 points.
On the year, seven players average double-digits led by Nick Smith at 23.3 ppg as Mark Matthews falls closely behind at 20.0 ppg.
In their lone SSC matchup of the year, the Sharks defeated Tampa 81-77 in Tampa, 41 points lower than the season average. Matthew and Smith scored 24 and 20 points, respectively to lead the team.
As a team, the Sharks lead the country in scoring averaging 122 ppg, while allowing 76.8.
HISTORY: In 26 games, the Sharks hold a 14-12 edge in the series between the two. Playing at home, Saint Leo is 9-5 against Nova Southeastern where the Sharks have won the last five meetings. In the last matchup on Feb. 9, 2019, Nova Southeastern won 90-79 where Rusty Moorer led the Green and Gold in scoring with 23 points. In the contest, five players were in double-figures for Saint Leo and all five return to the matchup this year: Moorer (23), McClure (15), Malik Fuller (13), Hill (12), Yalen Reed (12).