MIAMI LAKES, FL – The St. Thomas University Bobcats (21-6, 10-2 in The Sun Conference) women's basketball team defeated the Warner Southern University Royals 62-50 (9-19, 3-9 in TSC) to clinch first place in The Sun Conference basketball tournament and secure a share of their first ever Sun Conference regular season championship. Santana Lennon led the Bobcats in scoring with 17 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists. Dominique Collier also chipped in a nice double-double with 16 points, 14 rebounds, and 5 steals.
The Royals played hard from start to finish. They jumped out to a quick 6-0 lead raining in three point field goals early. The early Royal offensive serge would eventually be slowed down by the Bobcats defense. A defense that is currently ranked third in points allowed and in the top 10 in steals per game.
With their defense forcing turnovers and preventing Royals baskets the Bobcats picked up their offense and put together a 7-0 run that tied the game at 11. One of the highlights of the run included a steal by Lennon and a cognizant pass up the basketball court to Brittany Ownes for a lay-up despite a foul for a potential three-point play. Ownes ended the game with 10 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 assists.
Two free-throws by Carissa Staiano completed the 7-0 run and tied the game up. Staiano finished the game with 14 points, 5 steals, and 3 rebounds. Though they lost control of their early lead the Royals continued to battle the Bobcats hard. Unfortunately for the Royals every time they managed to close the gap on the scoreboard the Bobcats would make a timely pass to the right player for a momentum changing basket. Staiano was responsible for making two of the three point field goals by the Bobcats in the first half which kept the Royals at bay. Owens and Amanda Fernandez assisted Staiano on each of the field goals.
The half-time score was St. Thomas 33, Warner Southern 25. For the second half the Bobcats would continue to convert turnovers into points. They would finish the game with 14 points off of turnovers. Winning the turnover battle has been the norm for the Bobcats ranking third in the nation in turnover differential on the season. A streaking lay-up by Fernandez in the second half was the perfect example of why and how the Bobcats won the game. Making the steal at half court then flying down the left hand side of the court she manage to score a crowd pleasing layup over a Royals defender.
The Bobcats will play their first game of the conference tournament Friday February 27 at 5 PM in Jacksonville, FL. They will play the winner of the SCAD vs. Webber International University game played Thursday February 26 at 4 PM.
