AVE MARIA, Fla. - On an evening when another Bobcat joined the 1,000 point club, St. Thomas (20-7, 16-1 TSC) won its 11th straight game and earned its 20th win overall with an improbable 72-69 comeback victory over host Ave Maria (20-7, 11-6 TSC) on Thursday.

Samara Auguste scored 23 points to lead the Bobcats and eclipse the 1,000 career point mark.  Auguste, who needed 14 points to hit 1,000 entering the night, now has 1,009 career points in a Bobcat uniform.

Auguste, who also dished out a team-high eight assists, joins her backcourt mate Katie Rienas as members of the elite 1,000 point club. Rienas, who eclipsed the 1,000 point mark earlier this month, scored 16 points herself as the Bobcats rallied from a major deficit in the opening half.

Ebony Griffin recorded a double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds.  Keiana Brooks added seven points for the winning cause.

The Bobcats came out cold in the first quarter and trailed by 20 points at the end of the first.  Trailing 28-8, the Bobcats cut the deficit to 14 points just before the intermission.

STU came out of the halftime locker room on fire, going on a 13-3 run to cut AMU's lead to four.  As the Bobcats were making their third quarter comeback, Auguste hit a bucket with 4:56 left in the quarter to officially go over the 1,000 point barrier.

Ave Maria widened its lead back to seven points as the Bobcat trailed 55-48 at the end of the third.  Early in the fourth, AMU stretched their lead to 51-63 but a Rienas three-pointer began another comeback for the Bobcats.

STU reeled of a 12-0 run that included a three-pointer by Janelle Silver and was capped by a Griffin field goal to tie the score 63-63.  The two teams traded baskets down the stretch until an "and-one" three-point play by Griffin gave STU a 68-67 lead with two minutes to play. 

Another three-pointer by Rienas and a pair of late free throws by Auguste secured the remarkable win for the Bobcats.

STU concludes its regular season with a road game at number one ranked Southeastern, the only team that has defeated the Bobcats this season in conference play.  The game between the two top teams in the conference is set for 5 p.m in Lakeland, Fla.

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