LAKELAND, Fla.– The UWF women's basketball team fell into a big hole in the first half and was unable to complete the comeback, losing to Nova Southeastern, 87-78, in the NCAA Division II Women's Basketball South Region Semifinal at Jenkins Field House Saturday.
 
UWF ran into a NSU team that had its best outside shooting night of the year, making 15 3-pointers and shot 52 percent in the first half while building a 29-point lead.
 
NSU's Christen Prasse tied an NCAA Tournament record with nine 3-pointers on her way to a NSU school-record career-high 39 points.
 
The Sharks got out to a 29-15 lead, making six triples, three free throws on a 3-point attempt, two 3-point plays and a layup. NSU ended the opening two quarters with 10 treys, including 6-of-9 in the second frame where they shot 65 percent in outscoring UWF 35-16 for a 52-25 halftime lead.
 
UWF came out in the second half and continued to fight. The Argonauts scored the first five points and outscored the Sharks 20-5 in the opening 6:35, trimming the deficit to 57-45. NSU moved it's lead back to 18 by the end of the quarter.
 
The Argos got within nine midway through the fourth quarter but couldn't get any closer as NSU made four free throws and a layup to extend the difference back 15.
 
UWF (24-6) shot 45 percent overall and 61 percent after halftime. The Argos outrebounded the Sharks 38-35. NSU (20-11) ended the night with 45 percent and was also 18-of-21 at the free throw line.
 
Seniors Toni Brewer and Halee Nieman led the team with 28 points apiece.
 
Brewer had 12 rebounds for her 21st double-double. She ended her outstanding career with 1,702 points – second in UWF history – and a school-record 1,197 rebounds. She was one of just two student-athletes to participate in three NCAA Tournaments and is the winningest Argo ever with 89 victories.
 
Nieman scored 23 of her 28 points in the second half to finish her collegiate career with 1,560 points and 697 rebounds. She played her final two seasons in Pensacola and totaled 959 points and 400 boards. In 2018-19, she and Brewer were the first pair of teammates to score over 500 points in the same season in program history.
 
Senior Belle Bistrow scored 11 points and made a pair of 3-pointers to end her career with 162 from outside, ranking second all-time at UWF.
 
The Argos 24 wins are tied for the third-most in school history. UWF has made the NCAA Tournament in four of the last six seasons and averaged 21 wins over that span.