LAKELAND, Fla. - Host Southeastern (17-5, 8-2 TSC) handed St. Thomas (15-4, 8-1 TSC) its first conference loss of the season in a 70-67 defeat of the Bobcats Thursday evening in Lakeland. The loss also snapped a 10-game win streak for the Bobcats who suffered their first defeat since December 18.

The first half started with the Fire ahead of the Bobcats the majority of the matchup and resulting in a 34-29 lead over STU to end the first. Even with St. Thomas outscoring Southeastern in the second, it proved to be not enough to prevent the Bobcats first conference loss this season.
 
Overall, the Bobcats shot a higher percentage from the field than the Fire as they made 48 percent of their shots compared to the Fire's 39 percent. But, the huge deciding factor of the game was decided at the three-point line.
 
As the Bobcats were only to make one out of 11 threes for the day, Southeastern was able to convert a whopping 20 out of 45 threes for the game. Shooting 44 percent from three point land, the Fire were able to tack on 60 out of their 70 total points from behind the arch. Alyssa Ramos and Carlie Newman were the main participants of this three point streak for Southeastern, as they scored 15 of the 20 threes made for the night,
 
Five Bobcats were able to score double-digit points for the day: Claudia Martin (18), Dannisha Pierce (16), Cleyder Blanco (12), Antishia Wright (10), and Desanta' Franklin-Jordan (10). Pierce led the game with four steals and also tied for the game-high in rebounds with 10.
 
The Bobcats head home this Saturday as they look to bounce back in conference when they face off against Thomas at The Fernandez Family Center. 

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