FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Following the fourth trip to the Elite Eight in the last seven years for the Nova Southeastern women's basketball team, the defending NCAA South Region Champions look to maintain their consistent success into the upcoming 2019-20 season, officially tipping off their 27-game campaign on the road, Nov. 8 in Cleveland, Miss. at the GSC/SSC Crossover Challenge.
 
The Sharks welcome three newcomers, including two NCAA Division I transfers to compliment 10 returning players. Ninth-year head coach, LeAnn Freeland-Curry will look to fill the holes left by five departing seniors, including All-SSC Second Team players Christen Prasse and Alison Hughes.
 
"We have three new transfers who are fitting in well with our returning players and are eager to learn our system, discover what it takes to be successful in our league and nationally at the Div. II level," Freeland-Curry said. "Collectively, we are working hard to help this team realize its full potential."
 
This year's Nova Southeastern squad will host 13 games in the Shark Tank at Rick Case Arena, including the NSU Classic in mid-December. However, the team will actually spend more time on the road, with 14 contests away from Fort Lauderdale, in addition to an exhibition game on Nov. 2. at Div. I program Florida Atlantic. The Sharks' regular season campaign opens against two familiar South Region foes – Union on Nov. 8, followed by Delta State the next day.
 
Freeland-Curry has not shied away from putting together a very tough non-conference schedule again this season, with formidable talent in the Sunshine State Conference, the challenge prepares the team for the SSC grind and postseason opportunities.
 
"Our players have already shown us that they are very motivated and ready to be coached," Freeland-Curry noted. "We have several players who are emerging to be strong leaders and hold the team accountable to our team standards, which is key to a successful season."
 
On Nov. 18, the Sharks will welcome the Northeast-10 Conference runner-up Bentley to the Rick Case Arena, opening the home schedule where NSU successfully defended court with a 12-4 record a year ago. SSC league play will begin Nov. 23, on the road at Tampa. Nova Southeastern will jump into a quick two-game set, Nov. 29-30 at the Barry Thanksgiving Tournament, taking on Daemen, then Alaska Anchorage in neutral-site matchups in Miami Shores.
 
From there, Freeland-Curry and company will take on a pair of SSC foes who the Sharks swept last season, traveling to Saint Leo on Dec. 7 then returning home against Rollins on Dec. 14. Just prior to the holiday season, the Sharks will host two Great Midwest Athletic Conference teams in Ohio Dominican and Findlay on Dec. 20 and 21, respectively, during the NSU Classic.
 
Kicking off the new year, NSU will host Eckerd, who finished just one game ahead of the Sharks in last year's SSC standings, on Jan. 2. Two days later, the team will travel to Florida Southern for a much-anticipated rematch of the NCAA South Region Final, followed by a matchup at Lynn on Jan. 8.
 
Next up, the Sharks will host five of their next six games at the Shark Tank, welcoming Florida Tech, Palm Beach Atlantic and Embry-Riddle for three consecutive home tilts, beginning Jan. 11, before heading to Miami Shores to take on Barry, Jan. 22, and returning back to NSU for second-round bouts against Tampa and Saint Leo, Jan. 25 and Feb. 1, respectively.
 
The team then travels up to Rollins and Eckerd early in February, in advance of back-to-back home dates with Lynn and Florida Southern, scheduled for Feb. 12 and Feb. 15. The Sharks will conclude conference play with three of their final four contests on the road – Senior Night against Barry is set for Feb. 26 and the regular-season finale on the road, Feb. 29 at Embry-Riddle.

The 2020 SSC Women's Basketball Championship will be played at home sites with the higher seeds hosting each contest. The quarterfinal round will take place on March 3, while the semifinals and final are slated for March 5 and March 8.

Winners of the SSC Championship will receive automatic qualification to the 2020 NCAA Division II Championships. Regional competition will tip off at non-predetermined sites on March 13. The NCAA will announce championship selections and seeding on March 8.

For the complete 2019-20 schedule, click here. To stay up-to-date with the Sharks throughout the season, follow them on Twitter @NSU_WBasketball.