Box Score | Season Stats

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- The No. 2 ranked Washburn Lady Blues rallied from a seven-point deficit with 4:35 to play in the game and Hope Gregory hit a 15-foot jumper as time expired to keep the Lady Blues unblemished season intact with a 64-62 win over Nova Southeastern. Washburn (10-0) will play at Missouri Western on Dec. 29 continuing MIAA play in St. Joseph.

The Sharks' Eliza Allen hit a 3-pointer with 4:35 to go in the game putting Nova Southeastern up 60-53, but on the next possession following a timeout, Janice Bright hit a 3-pointer of her own cutting the deficit back to four at 60-56 with 4:10 remaining. A missed three and two turnovers by the Sharks with the last turnover coming on a swipe and a bucket by Bright pulled Washburn within two at 60-58 with 3:11 left to go in the game.

Two free throws by Jessica Mainz knotted the score at 60 with 1:28 remaining. It was the fourth time the score had been tied in the second half. After a Shark jumper by Abbie Tepe made the score 62-60 with 1:10 remaining. Bright drove on the next Lady Blues possession and was fouled and hit both free throws tying the score at 62 with 51 seconds remaining.

On the Sharks' next possession, Mainz picked up a steal and then called timeout setting up the final sequence. Bright drove the lane and her floater in the lane missed, Stanecia Graham tipped the ball and Mainz going out of bounds tossed the ball to Gregory who hit the game-winner as the horn sounded giving Washburn the 64-62 win.

Washburn led only once in the first half as Bright connected on a 3-pointer at the buzzer sending the Lady Blues into the halftime break with a 27-26 lead. Coming out of the locker room at halftime, the Sharks went on a 7-0 run taking a 33-27 lead. They would lead the remainder of the half until Mainz had a conventional 3-point play putting Washburn up 53-51 with 8:47 to go in the game. It would be the last lead for Washburn until the final buzzer sounded.

Bright led Washburn with 18 points on 6 of 15 shooting including 2 of 5 from 3-point range and a perfect 4 of 4 from the free throw line. Graham finished with 14 points and finished with a team-high nine rebounds. Karla Tailele scored all 13 of her points in the second half. Mainz finished with seven points with all of hers coming in the second half as well.

Preseason All-American Stephanie Sarosi had 15 points to lead the Sharks.

Washburn finished the game 24 of 62 while the Sharks were 22 of 51 from the field. Washburn did hit all nine of their free throws while NSU hit 13 of 23. The Lady Blues also had a 40 to 34 advantage on the glass.

Notes:
* Washburn is now 1-0 against Nova Southeastern.
* Washburn is now 705-327 in the program's history.
* Washburn is 5-0 all-time on Dec. 19.
* Washburn improved to 46-4 all-time in the month of December under head coach Ron McHenry.
* Washburn improved to 6-35 when trailing under head coach Ron McHenry when trailing with five minutes remaining.
* The Lady Blues improved to 193-12 under McHenry when leading at the half.