MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – St. Thomas (8-3, 1-0 TSC) won its Sun Conference opener 70-54 over Southeastern (7-4, 0-1 TSC) on Saturdayafternoon at the Fernandez Family Center.

Claudia Martin recorded a double-double with 19 points and 11 rebounds, while Dannisha Pierce recorded 16 points, eight rebounds, and six steals.  Antishia Wright added 16 points, while dishing out six assists.

As a team, the Bobcats blanketed the Fire defensively recording 19 steals on the afternoon.  In addition to Pierce's six steals, Wright (4), Tomoriya Hamm (3), Jamesha Willis (3) and Martin (2) all had multiple-steal totals.   In total, Southeastern had 25 turnovers to just eight turnovers by the Bobcats.

STU took a 36-30 into the half, turning several defensive stops into fast-break opportunities as the Bobcats recorded 11 steals in the opening stanza.  The Fire turned the ball over 14 times leading to 17 STU points in the first half.

The Bobcats opened the game up in the second half outscoring the Fire 34-24 and building a lead of as many 22 points. 

The Bobcats return to Sun Conference action on Thursday with a road game at Ave Maria.