MELBOURNE, Fla. – Needing a win to keep themselves at the top of the Sunshine State Conference standings, #10 ranked Nova Southeastern used a dominant second quarter to pull away from Florida Tech to earn an 88-64 victory on Saturday afternoon at the Clemente Center. 

 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP: 
Final: Florida Tech 64, #10 Nova Southeastern 88 
Records: Florida Tech (8-16, 5-12 SSC), #10 Nova Southeastern (22-2, 14-2 SSC) 
Location: Clemente Center | Melbourne, Fla. 

FIRST QUARTER: 

• A layup from Deirdre Miller on the fast break opened the scoring after 45 seconds.  
• The teams traded baskets for the next four possessions, capped by Amanda Ogbonna's jumper to tie the game at 6 at the 7:41 mark.  
• After a brief lull, the Sharks' Anaia Hoard and Mikayla Morin of Florida Tech matched baskets to keep the game tied at 8 with 5:49 remaining.  
• Nova Southeastern then made their first big move in the game, reeling off six straight points through a Unique Horton layup as well as two layups and a free throw from Markayla Holland. 
• Deirdre Miller and Hailey Chiles traded baskets for the teams just shy of the three-minute mark, while Kailyah Morales and Tai Roberts did the same a minute later. 
• Two turnovers in the final minute allowed the Sharks to extend their lead to 13.  
• Roberts' floater off the glass beat the buzzer to bring the Panthers within 25-14.  
• 11 of the Sharks' 25 points in the quarter were a result of Florida Tech turnovers. 

SECOND QUARTER: 

• An Ogbonna free throw opened the second quarter scoring at 9:20 before Morales responded with a putback layup on the other end.  
• Mikayla Morin provided the Panthers' first field goal of the quarter at 7:21 on a short jumper. Once again, NSU responded immediately, this time through a Holland layup.  
• Holland split a pair of free throws at 5:04 to push the Sharks' lead to 17.  
• A turnover off the inbound led to a corner three for Brianna Williams and a 37-17 advantage for Nova Southeastern.  
• Following a pair of Chynna Mattair free throws, Tech beat the press by finding Elif Bayrak ahead of the defense for an easy layup to make it 39-19 and snap a 12-0 Sharks run.  
• NSU would fire off a quick five points thanks to a Taydra Simpson three and a Morales jumper. 
• Threes from Morales either side of a Panther turnover brought the lead to 28 before Tai Roberts hit two free throws in the final minute of the half. 

THIRD QUARTER: 

• Florida Tech began the second half on a 6-2 thanks to a Roberts jumper, Bayrak triple and a Remingtyn Smith free throw. 
• The Sharks responded with a 6-2 run of their own through threes from Simpson and Bridie McCann.  
• The Crimson and Gray countered with a quick five points of their own via a Smith three-point play and a Morin layup off a turnover.  
• However, Tech would endure an almost three-minute scoring drought before Michaela Medico's jump hook in the paint made it a 65-40 game at the 3:11 mark.  
• After a stop on the defensive end, Bayrak earned a trip to the foul line, where she hit both free throws.  
• Following a Williams layup, Bayrak fought through heavy contact to make her layup at 1:50.  
• Threes from McCann and Hoard in the final minute gave NSU a 29-point advantage to end the quarter.  

FOURTH QUARTER: 

• The Sharks extended their run to 16-0 with 10 straight points to start the fourth quarter before a Bayrak three-pointer snapped it just before the seven-minute mark.  
• After a Sharks turnover, Smith added a layup to bring the Panthers within 34.  
• NSU took an 86-49 lead with 4:46 to play before Florida Tech closed the game on a 15-2 run.  
• The Crimson and Gray closed the day with some positive momentum thanks to four points from Sydney Logsdon and Bayrak as well as a three from Deirdre Miller and layups from Medico and McKenzie Winder. 

NOTABLE PANTHERS: 

• Elif Bayrak led the team with 16 points on six-of-ten shooting from the field in 34 minutes.   
• Tai Roberts added 10 points, four rebounds and three assists in 31 minutes.  
• Remingtyn Smith tallied seven assists and six steals. 
• Amanda Ogbonna had a team-high five rebounds.  

INSIDE THE BOXSCORE: 

• All-time versus Nova Southeastern, the Panthers are now 27-29. 
• Tech is 22-18 all-time at home against Nova Southeastern.  
• Elif Bayrak's fourth quarter three-pointer was her 58th of the season, breaking the previous record of 57 set by Marcia Alvarado in 2002-03 for the most three-pointers made by a Panther in their first season with the team.  
• Florida Tech had more fast break points, 15-11.  

UP NEXT: Florida Tech will be on the road for two games next week, beginning with a trip to Lakeland to face Florida Southern on Wednesday. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m. ET.