Lions Ledger: Lions and Sharks Prepare for Midweek SSC Action in Fort Lauderdale

Jan 18, 2022

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RECORDS: Saint Leo 12-5, 7-2 SSC | Nova Southeastern 9-7, 4-5 SSC
Saint Leo hops on the bus to defend a three-game win streak after topping Florida Southern 70-66 in Lakeland on Wednesday and rolling over Rollins on Saturday, 93-66. The victorious week brought in Sunshine State Conference Player of the Week honors in Kiki McIntyre and Defensive Player of the Week in Ayanna Trigg. McIntyre averaged 22.5 points per game shooting a .667-percent (20-30) from the field and made all four free throw attempts. Off the glass, the sophomore point guard averaged six rebounds per game while recording seven assists and eight steals. Trigg continued to be a dominant presence under the basket with 18 rebounds, 15 of which were defensive grabs, on her way to an average of nine boards a game. The graduate student forward paired her work off the iron with 24 points, averaging 12 points per game, shooting an impressive .600-percent from the field (9-15). At the line, she hit 6-of-7 free throws. She also earned 10 assists, five steals, and a block.
On the season, Amanda Ulrich paces the offense with 18.1 points per game (ppg) shooting a .412-percent from the floor, and a .336-percent from beyond the circle. At the charity stripe, she makes .778-percent of her free throws. McIntyre enters the midweek road action averaging 12.7 ppg followed by Ayanna Trigg with 12.4 ppg, and Alex Button with 10.7 ppg. Trigg leads the team off the glass with 7.9 rebounds per game (rpg).
Amanda Ulrich leads the league in scoring with her 307 points after 17 games, averaging 18.1 ppg. Ayanna Trigg enters the week as the second highest rebounder in the SSC after 16 games with 127 rebounds, averaging 7.9 rpg. As a team, Saint Leo has the highest scoring offense with 1,244 points, averaging 73.2 points per game.
Nova Southeastern looks to bounce back after taking a 78-69 loss at Florida Southern on Saturday.
Hailey Conley paces the Sharks' offense with 16.4 ppg helped by McKenah Peters with 15.9 and Grace Gilmore with 11.4 ppg. Gilmore also leads the team off the boards with 5.7 rpg followed by Madeline Hardy with 4.2 rpg.
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HISTORY: Saint Leo and Nova Southeastern last meet during the 2019-20 season. The programs met three times that season. In December 2019, The Sharks slipped by the Lions 70-67 in the Marion Bowman Activities Center. Saint Leo returned the favor in February of 2020, defeating the Sharks in Fort Lauderdale, 82-72. The last time the teams met was on the Lions' home court where the Green and Gold defended their house to advance to the SSC Championship Semifinals. Saint Leo beat Nova Southeastern 76-55 on Tuesday, March 3, 2020 to win the quarterfinal round at home.
Current SSC Standings: Saint Leo: 3 | Nova Southeastern: 6

RECORDS: Saint Leo 6-9, 3-6 SSC | #3 Nova Southeastern 15-0, 9-0 SSC
Saint Leo looks to bounce back from a 90-83 overtime loss to Rollins on Saturday. Despite the loss, Wade Coomer recorded his second consecutive 27-point game. The senior guard has been on fire from downtown, breaking out clutch three-pointers at Florida Southern and against Rollins.
On the season, Wade Coomer paces the offense with 15.0 points per game (ppg) followed closely by teammate Francis Sio, who averages 15.0 ppg. Joining Coomer and Sio in averaging double figures is Frank Webb Jr. with 14.1 ppg and a team0high 7.8 rebounds per game (rpg). Jared Coomer rounds off the double digit offense with 13.4 ppg.
Nova Southeastern hosts the Lions as the only remaining undefeated team in the Sunshine State Conference (SSC). On Saturday, the Sharks took care of the Mocs of Florida Southern, 83-73 in Lakeland. Nick Smith was named the SSC Defensive Player of the Week honors on Monday. The veteran point guard earned a season-high seven steals in the win at Florida Southern. He also helped the Sharks force the Moccasins into a season-high 24 turnovers.
Sekou Sylla enters the week with a team-high 23.4 ppg. Three more Sharks who average double digit points in RJ Sunahara (19.3), Eddie Puisis (12.4), and Nick Smith (11.4). Off the iron, Sylla leads the team with 9.5 rpg followed by Sunahara with 6.8 rpg.
Sekov Sylla leads the SSC in scoring after 15 games played with 351 points this season, averaging 23.4 ppg. Meanwhile, teammate Nick Smith is the league's leader in assists with 116, with an average of 7.7 per game after 15 games played. Smith also has the conference's most number of steals with 59 (3.9/g).
HISTORY: The teams last met in the 2019-2020 season. The Sharks swept the Lions winning inside the Marion Bowman Activities Center 92-77 and defending the Rick Case Arena, 97-84. Saint Leo last defeated Nova Southeastern on January 4, 2017 in a thrilling 62-61 decision at Saint Leo.
Current SSC Standings: Saint Leo: 8 | #3 Nova Southeastern: 1

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