MIAMI GARDENS, FLA. – The St. Thomas University Women's Basketball team (8-4, 4-1 TSC) defeated Florida National University (6-12) 64-57 on Thursday night from the Bucky Dent Gymnasium.

The win extended the Bobcats winning streak to five games, over the course of the mid-season streak, STU has defeated four Sun Conference opponents (Coastal Georgia, Thomas, Keiser and Johnson & Wales).

St. Thomas opened the game on a 6-0 run, as Chakari Merritt and Keiana Brooks each contributed to the early offense. The Bobcats were able to extend their lead to nine points in the first half as Merritt once again added four consecutive points to have eight of the first 11-points for STU. STU built a 10-point advantage before finishing the quarter up 14-9.

Florida National cut the St. Thomas lead to just one, 19-18, three minutes into the second quarter and tied the game moments later for the first time in the game. STU held off FNU, and brought the lead back up to six, to go into the halftime break, leading 34-28.

The teams traded buckets, following halftime as midway through the third quarter, STU went up by seven as Brooks added two more to her point total. The Bobcats closed the quarter with another double digit lead and went into the fourth quarter up 54-43.

FNU began their comeback throughout the quarter, cutting the STU lead down to just two with four minutes remaining at 59-57. The Conquistadors were unable to sustain the momentum, and Ebony Griffin sealed the victory by scoring four of the final five points to close out the game.

Bobcat Ballers
Ebony Griffin: 20 points, six rebounds, 9-11 FGA
Chakari Merritt: 13 points, seven rebounds, 6-12 FGA
Keiana Brooks: 10 points, seven rebounds

Up next, St. Thomas takes on Spring Arbor University from the Fernandez Family Center on December 18^th with tip-off scheduled for 7 p.m.

-STU-