FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 12-29-03

Women's Basketball: AASU 80, Nova Southeastern 64

MIAMI SHORES, Fla. - Sparked by senior Tasha Washington's career-high 29 points, the Armstrong Atlantic State women's basketball squad defeated Nova Southeastern, 80-64, at the 2003 Barry University Holiday Classic on Monday afternoon.

The Lady Pirates (7-2) ran their win streak to five games with the victory, but needed a second-half push to pull away from the Knights (1-8). AASU jumped out in front of Nova Southeastern, 28-15, in the first 10 minutes, but the Knights cut the lead to just two, 33-31, at halftime.

NSU took a two-point lead, 37-35, on a three-pointer by Melissa Tippets two minutes into the second half, but AASU then went on a 17-0 run over the next four minutes to take a 52-37 lead and pull away. Washington scored 20 of her game-high 29 points in the second half, hitting 12-of-16 shots from the floor. Junior Ramona Wright added 16 points and freshman Kaneetha Gordon added 10 for AASU, while Nova Southeastern placed four players in double figures, led by Marvelous Washington's 16 points.

AASU wraps up action in the Classic on Tuesday at 6:00 p.m. against host Barry.

- Pirates -