MIAMI SHORES, Fla. – Barry University women's basketball team put up a good fight, but No. 11 Nova Southeastern escaped with a 73-65 win Wednesday night.

In a game that featured seven lead changes and eight ties, the Buccaneers dropped their first home game of the season.

Amra Elezovic had 20 points and six rebounds, and Ines Kerin had 19 points, seven assists and five boards for the Bucs (10-5, 3-3 Sunshine State Conference). Kayla Wright had 17 points and six rebounds, and Monaye Merritt 14 points and six boards for the Sharks (14-1, 6-0).

Barry will play at Eckerd 2 p.m. Saturday.

Kerin and Elezovic hit threes to open the fourth quarter, cutting the Sharks lead to 54-51. But Nova ran the lead back to eight with two straight baskets on the next two possessions. The Sharks built a 10-point lead before Kim Flournoy hit a jumper from the elbow.

Nova's lead grew to 65-53 before Elezovic hit a driving layup with 3:16 remaining. Elezovic hit a jumper off an inbounds play the next trip down the floor as the Bucs cut it to eight. Kerin converted a three-point play with 2:13 to go to trim the Sharks lead to 66-60. Elezovic buried a 3-pointer from the top of the key with 36.9 seconds left as Barry drew within 70-65.

But the Bucs couldn't get any closer.

Barry shot 35.6 percent from the floor. Nova hit 47.4 percent of its shots. The Bucs outrebounded the Sharks, 41-38.

Elezovic hit a jumper with 6:36 left in the third quarter to put the Buccaneers ahead, 40-38. But the Sharks went on a 10-0 run to take an eight-point lead before Irene Sanchez scored with just over two minutes left in the period to end the drought.
 
Barry trailed 36-31 at the half.

Sanchez finished with nine points and six rebounds. Flournoy had eight points and eight rebounds.

The Bucs were 9 of 24 from 3-point range. The Sharks hit seven of 16 from long range. Barry attempted only five free throws, sinking four of them.