Venner's Monster Night Propels Sharks to Victory
The Miami Dade Sharks used a dominant third quarter and strong individual performances across the roster to rally past St. Petersburg College, 73–70, on Saturday evening.
After trailing 38–23 at halftime, the Sharks erupted for 34 points in the third quarter, completely changing the tone of the game and seizing momentum heading into the final period.
Meredith Venner was the centerpiece of the comeback, turning in a monster performance with 27 points and 16 rebounds while shooting an efficient 13-of-19 from the field. Venner controlled the paint on both ends, creating second-chance opportunities and anchoring Miami Dade's interior defense throughout the second half.
Jazmyne Bynum followed with 19 points, connecting on three three-pointers and adding six assists. Bynum's shot-making and playmaking helped ignite the Sharks' offensive surge coming out of the locker room, as she consistently found teammates and attacked gaps in the defense.
The bench played a crucial role in the win, led by Riana Callihan, who pulled down a team-high 19 rebounds to go along with four assists, two blocks, and a steal. Her energy on the glass was instrumental in Miami Dade finishing with a 56–30 rebounding advantage.
Constanza Aravena provided steady production off the bench with five points and a team-high seven assists, keeping the offense flowing during key stretches. Azjannie Culberth added nine points, all from beyond the arc, knocking down timely threes to stretch the defense and maintain momentum during the rally.
Miami Dade finished the night with 26 offensive rebounds and 24 assists, capitalizing on extra possessions and unselfish play to close out the victory. The Sharks withstood a late push from St. Petersburg but sealed the deal to move back to 5-5 on the year.
