SAINT LEO, Fla. – The Saint Leo women's basketball team was unable to recover from a six-point first quarter at Nova Southeastern Saturday afternoon. The Sharks escaped the Lions second-half surge, handing Saint Leo a 73-62 Sunshine State Conference loss. In the comeback efforts, Saint Leo improved its team shooting field goal percentage from 25.8-percent to a 61.5-percent.
 
Saint Leo (9-14, 5-10 SSC) had four shooters generate a double-digit performance paced by Asia Royster with 16 points. Casey Wortley (14), Gina Brierley (11), and Delaney Bernard (11) each put up double figures respectively. Royster went 7-for-12 from the floor, making 2-of-3 of her shots from downtown. She also earned a team-high six rebounds.
 
Nova Southeastern (14-8, 10-5 SSC) also saw four shooters hit double-figures led by Jordan Tully with 18 points. Alison Hughes (15), Christen Prasse (11), Claire McMahon (10) joined Tully in big scoring.
 
"I'm proud of our fight on the road at Nova Southeastern where the 2019 Sharks have dominated Sunshine State competition," said head coach Anthony Crocitto. "Our second half was one of the best we have played since I came to Saint Leo. The team showed fight, heart, and energy today."
 
How It Happened

• Tied at 2-2, the Sharks recorded back-to-back three-pointers for a six-point early lead. Royster and Wortley slashed the gap back down to two points. Nova Southeastern closed the first quarter on a 14-0 run, 22-6.
• Brierley's three-pointer at 8:28 kept the game to 14 points, 25-11. Nova Southeastern earned a 10-0 run to hand the Lions a 24-point deficit; 35-11 at 4:16. Wortley hit back-to-back jumpers followed by a three-pointer by Royster, 35-18. The hosts recorded six more points before the break for a halftime score of 41-18.
• Saint Leo opened the third quarter with a 6-0 run. Nova Southeastern put together another 7-0 run to extend their lead to 24, 52-28 at 4:43. Bernard was left alone around the arch. She drained two three-pointers to bring the hosts' lead back down to 18. After exchanging layups and made free throws, the third ended with the Lions trailing 60-42.
• The Lions offensive found a rhythm in the fourth. The Green and Gold went on a 6-0 run; 65-52 at 3:41. Wortley's layup and free throw cut the difference to 11-points, 68-57 with two minutes remaining. The Sharks would maintain the 11-point separation for the 73-62 decision.

 
Up Next
Saint Leo continues play on the road. The Lions are set to face Florida Tech on Wednesday, Feb. 13 at 5:30 p.m. Last meeting in the Marion Bowman Activities Center on Wednesday, Jan. 9, Saint Leo topped Florida Tech 67-61 in comeback fashion. The Green and Gold had three players score in double-figures paced by Gallagher with 17 points followed by Bernard with 16 points and Brierley with 14 points. The fourth quarter jolt featured a team field goal percentage of 72.7-percent.
 
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