JACKSONVILLE, FL – The St. Thomas University Bobcats (22-7, 10-2 in The Sun Conference) women's basketball team fell just short of their first ever Sun Conference Tournament Championship losing to the Florida Memorial University Lions in the championship game (18-9, 8-4 in TSC) 59-61. Dominique Collier put together a double-double with 14 points and 13 rebounds for the Bobcats. Nickerline Montina led the team in scoring with 17 points and Santana Lennon was the third Bobcat in double-digits with 11 points.
The game began with the Lions shooting well from behind the three-point arc. They connected on 2 of 3 early attempts and their lead would extend to as much as 7. The Bobcats would remain patient and thanks to several successful trips to the free-throw line, making 9 of 14 attempts, the Bobcats would counter the early offense of the Lions. The Bobcats would eventually get their first lead of the game after two free-throws by Brittany Owens gave them a 21-20 lead with 6 minutes left in the first half.
The Bobcats made two key plays to end the first half and give them a 37-33 lead. On one play Santana Lennon made a one handed mid dribble pass from half court through the unsuspecting Lions defense to Victoria Caballero for a layup. The second play featured Lennon again passing the ball to Collier with the clock winding down for a left baseline jump shot from about 15 feet from the basket.
The Bobcats' momentum from the end of the first half would carry over into the second and they would maintain an 8 point lead for the majority of the second half. The Bobcats turned up the defense in the second half slowing down the leading scorer in the game Lion Kiesha Alexander holding her to 7 points, she finished with 21.
With the games leading scorer stifled by the Bobcat defense other Lions had to contribute to keep them in the game. Fortunately for the Lions the other players on the team were up for the challenge and set the stage for an exciting finish.
The crowd reached its peak volume during the final minute and a half of the game, starting with a three-point basket by Carissa Staiano after a pass from Lennon. The basket gave the Bobcats a 57-56 lead. The Lions would respond the next possession with a three-point basket of their own giving them a 59-57 lead.
With 20 seconds remaining and everyone on the edge of their seats Nickerline Montina drove down the left side of the lane and converted a layup to tie the game at 59. With the rest of the Bobcats frantically getting back on defense and only 5 seconds remaining on the clock the Lions snuck in a layup of their own which would turn out to be the game winner.
