MIAMI GARDENS, Fla.- St. Thomas (11-13, TSC 7-6) fell short of conference foe Ave Maria (11-11, TSC 7-7) by a score of 57-64 on Thursday night at the Fernandez Family Center.

It was a close game all the way down to the fourth quarter, as the Bobcats played host to a tough Gyrenes team.  After being down 5-2 with 7:49 left in the first, STU went on a 9-to-2 scoring run before AMU scored a quick four points to tie the game at 11-11. The first quarter would end in a 13-13 tie, proving the true grit both teams were putting out.

It was Ave Maria who took the lead going in to the half by a score of 26-22 but the Bobcats would come back and fight. With the Gyrenes taking their biggest lead of the game (10 points), the answer came in the form of a 15-to-2 scoring run in favor of STU to put the team up 40-37. The run was fueled by Desanta' Franklin-Jordan and Supavadee Kunchuan, who both scored seven and six points respectively in that stretch.

STU would close out a quarter to gain the lead for the first time on the night by a score of 45-43. The Bobcats kept up the pace and the energy in the fourth, leading the game up until there were three minutes left.  AMU scored a two pointer to put them up 54-53, and the Bobcats answered quickly with a two of their own but the Gyrenes outscored STU 10-to-2 to close out in control.

Franklin-Jordan recorded her eighth double-double of the season with 22 points and 12 rebounds. Samara Auguste scored 16 points. Katie Rienas had nine points and Kunchuan had eight to close off their nights under double digits.

Next up for the Bobcats is a road matchup against to Thomasville, Ga. on Saturday, February 11 at 2 p.m. to take on foe Thomas for a Sun Conference showdown.

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