FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.- The Palm Beach Atlantic women's basketball team led in the first half but ultimately fell to the #3 seed Nova Southeastern Sharks in their SSC quarterfinal matchup on Tuesday evening. The Sailfish led for much of the first half but were unable to retain control in the second half as the Sharks took over. 

The first quarter was exactly what the Sailfish needed to do if they wanted to advance. The Sailfish got out to a blazing start and looked poised to make an upset bid. The first quarter was a back-and-forth affair until the final minute. A 7-0 run started by a three-pointer from Zoe Wortinger and finished by an Anabel Ellison buzzer-beating layup gave the Sailfish a 21-14 lead heading into the second quarter.  

Two buckets from Karyzma Pierre stretched the Sailfish lead to eight points with under seven minutes left in the half. However, Nova stormed back with a 10-0 run of their own to retake a 27-25 lead. Darria Whitley knocked down two free throws to knot things back up at 27 with almost three minutes remaining in the half. Two layups from Dash Shaw gave the Sharks a 4-point advantage over the Sailfish at the halftime break.  

Coming out of halftime, the Sharks took over. PBA was on the wrong side of a 13-2 run over the first 4:02 of the second half and suddenly the Sailfish were down 15. Despite seven points from Darria Whitley, the Sailfish found themselves down 17 heading into the final frame.  

Both teams went cold in the fourth quarter. PBA held Nova to 3-11 (27.3%) shooting in the final frame but were unable to take advantage and shot 2-9 (22.2%) in the quarter. Kash Ayuso led the way for PBA in the final quarter, but the Sailfish could only claw within 15.  

The three-point shot made the difference in the game. PBA were 1-6 (16.7%) from beyond the arc while Nova knocked down 10 triples on 25 attempts (40.0%).  

Darria Whitley led the way for the 'Fish with 15 points in the game. Only one less point than her season high back in February against Tampa. Kash Ayuso, who finishes her career as the leading scorer in PBA women's basketball history, followed behind Whitley with 10 points of her own. Karyzma Pierre and Zoe Wortinger had nine and seven points, respectively. 

This marks the end of the season for the PBA women's basketball program. The Sailfish finish the year with a 14-15 overall record while going 8-12 in conference play.