FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - Returning to conference play, Florida Tech (4-4, SSC 2-2) sparked on the hardwood of Rick Case Arena, where three Panthers combined for six individual season-highs and a one team seasonal record, to hand Nova Southeastern (4-4, SSC 2-2) its third consecutive loss, 70-64, on Saturday afternoon.

The Panthers shot 42.2 percent from the floor, while holding the Ft. Lauderdale lineup to a 37.3 shooting average. In boards, FIT held an overwhelming 50-29 edge over the Sharks, a season-high for head coach John Reynolds' team. Tallying an 18-for-23 effort from the line, Florida Tech notched a game-best 78.3 shooting percentage from the line with an 80 percent peak in the first half. Further increasing their overpowering performance, the Crimson and Gray also recorded a 20-point advantage in second-chance points over NSU's 13.

Running the offense with a game and season-best 20 points, senior DeLise Williams held a team-high 5-for-8 performance from the line, while totaling seven rebounds and three steals in 35 minutes of action.

Following closely behind, senior Kailyn Ebb ended the outing with her first double-double of the year. The forward knocked down 15 points and counted a team-high 11 rebounds, which both marked seasonal highs for the Accokeek, Maryland native.

Joining in double-digit scoring, sophomore Gudlaug Juliusdottir drained a season-best 18 points on an 8-for-10 effort from the floor. The guard also dished out a game and team-best four assists, the highest she recorded so far this season.

Starting the game, the Panthers broke out to an early 11-5 advantage at the six-minute mark on a 3-pointer made by Amanda Allen. However, Nova answered back with a 5-3 run over the next minute to pull within three points, 13-10. A jumper by Juliusdottir increased the FIT stretch once again, until the Sharks tied the score at 15-15. After two more lead changes, NSU ended the first stanza overlapping Florida Tech by one, 19-18.

Juliusdottir pulled the Panthers ahead to open the second period, as she delivered a good layup in the paint to bring the score to 20-19. From there, Florida Tech reeled off four points in a row, before the Sharks trimmed the gap by three at the 3:34 mark, 28-25. With two minutes left to play, NSU banged back-to-back baskets to enter the half down by 12, 32-20.

Returning from intermission, Nova quickly tied the game in the first 30 seconds of the third quarter. However, Williams, Juliusdottir, Ebb and Tenease Richardson combined for a 9-1 run in a two-minute span to extend the FIT lead, 41-32. In the remainder of the frame, Florida Tech never lost the lead and a four-point streak by Williams capped off the period for FIT, 57-48.

Entering the final quarter, the Melbourne lineup jumped out to a seven-point streak in a two-minute span to overlap Nova, 64-50. Although the Sharks closed the margin by nine, FIT put the game out of reach with nine back-to-back points to gain an 18-point lead. The run marked the highest recorded in the game. With 15 ticks remaining on the clock, NSU scored two more baskets, but the Panthers topped the Sharks offense and sealed the game, 70-64.

"The team came together today for the first time all year", said Reynolds. "They performed with the toughness it takes to win inside the Sunshine State Conference".

Next up, Florida Tech will travel to Tampa to participate in the Tampa Classic. First, FIT will square up against Malone College on Monday, Dec. 18 at 12 p.m. ET, and will face Southern Wesleyan University on Tuesday, Dec. 19 at 2 p.m. ET.