Ex-Iowa State player leads NSU to 20-game win streak
Morgan Kane, at 24 the oldest player on the Nova Southeastern University women’s basketball team, has had the honor of playing against Iowa star Caitlin Clark.
Kane, a 6-foot-3 post player, was at Iowa State then, and she witnessed the talents of Clark, now projected to be the first overall pick in the WNBA Draft on April 15.
“I wasn’t Caitlin’s biggest fan back then,” Kane said with a laugh, referring to the Iowa State-Iowa rivalry.
“But I’m so proud of her now. She’s a hell of a player. She is representing women’s basketball in an amazing light.”
The NSU Sharks are doing a pretty good job of that also, ranked No. 16 in the nation in the most recent NCAA Division II poll.
NSU (22-3) leads the Sunshine State Conference with a 17-1 record. The Sharks also have won a program-record 20 straight games, and they have clinched at least a tie for the regular-season league title.
Kane, who is working on her master’s degree in Sports Science, tops the Sharks in scoring (15.0) and rebounding (8.9).
She is also a leader. After breaking her right pinky finger in a preseason scrimmage and missing the Sharks’ first 12 games, Kane could have been aloof, doing her rehab work on her own.
But she proved to be a team player.
“I was at every practice,” Kane said. “I was learning the plays. I was engaged in drills, being that listening ear to my teammates.”
Kane, who wants to be a trainer when she’s done playing ball, has served as a mentor to freshman point guard Kailyn Terrell — the youngest player on the team at 19.
“We’re an older-type team with only one freshman and one sophomore,” Kane said. “Kailyn is open to constructive criticism. The older girls on the team tell her when she messes up — not in a negative way but because we see her potential.
“Kailyn is like a sponge. She’s learning something new every day.”
THIS AND THAT
The NSU men’s basketball team (22-2, 16-2) is ranked second in the nation. The Sharks just won the regular-season league title for the third straight year, and their home winning streak has reached 57 games.
The Florida Memorial University men’s basketball team (22-6 overall, 9-5 Sun Conference) is much improved under new coach Delano Thomas. Last season, the Lions went 14-14, 5-11. This season, the Lions have earned a bye into the semifinals of the league tournament Friday.
After a slow start, Barry University’s baseball team has won seven of its past eight games, improving to 8-6. The Bucs are led by Joe Morrissey (1-0, 2.01 ERA) and Frank Gonzalez II (0-0, 3.15), both of whom have made four starts. Both have returned from elbow surgery. Second baseman Freddy Rodriguez has gained 15 pounds of muscle and is hitting .346 with 10 RBI, eight doubles, four steals and two homers in 13 games.
Miami Dade College’s baseball team is off to an 11-9 start under firstyear coach Lazaro
Llanes. Two standouts so far are catcher/first baseman Geremy Garcia and catcher/DH Santiago Carriles. Garcia leads the team in RBI (23). Carriles tops the squad in batting average (.378).
St. Thomas University swimmer Stella Warborn, a freshman from Sweden, has set an NAIA record for the 100 breaststroke (1:01.47).