Box Score SIOUX CITY, IA. (March 7^th, 2019) – The St. Thomas University Women's Basketball season has come to its conclusion in the NAIA National Tournament, as for the second consecutive season, the Bobcats were eliminated in the first round. St. Thomas (21-10) was defeated by reigning NAIA National Champions, Dakota Wesleyan (29-5), 97-66.

Bobcat Starters: Anari Dozier (G), Keiana Brooks (G), Samara Auguste (G), Jaddah Knight (F), Ebony Griffin (F)
Tiger Starters: Rylie Osthus (G), Madison Mathews (G), Makela Karst (G), Kyendi Cheeseman (F), Sarah Carr (F)

Game Notes

• Auguste got the Bobcats on the board to cut the Tiger's lead to 6-2, as the senior made a jump shot.
• Moments later, Dakota Wesleyan showed their championship pedigree, putting St. Thomas down by fifteen within five minutes.
• Free throws by Knight brought STU back within single digits, at 17-9, as the Bobcats attempted to come back in the NAIA Tournament Game.
• St. Thomas went into the second quarter, trailing 26-10.
• The Bobcats tried to rally back into the game, but two minutes into the second quarter, STU was down 33-12.
• Auguste added a free throw bucket to cut the deficit to 36-19 with less than five minutes remaining in the first half.
• STU went into the halftime break, trailing DWU 49-23.
• St. Thomas could not get back into the game, falling behind by a bigger deficit and losing in the first round of the NAIA DII National Tournament, as the reigning National Champions advanced to the Sweet Sixteen.

Season Highlights

• St. Thomas University won 21-games for the second consecutive season in the Candace Walker-era, finishing second in the Sun Conference.
• 2018-19 marked the sixth time in program history that the Women's Basketball team made it to the NAIA National Tournament.
• Samara Auguste was named as the Sun Conference Player of the Year, as the senior averaged 21.35-points-per-game in Sun Conference Play. Auguste finished 13^th in the NAIA in points-per-game (18.385) and 16^th in steals-per-game (2.577)
• In addition to being named as the Sun Conference Player of the Year, Auguste was also named to the First-Team All-Conference for the second consecutive season.
• Ebony Griffin earned First-Team All-Conference honors as well, as Griffin recorded a team-high 14 double-double performances. The 14 double-double performances were the second most in the Sun Conference.
• St. Thomas won 18-of-20 games from November 29^th through February 9^th, as the Bobcats tied a Walker-era high with eleven consecutive wins (11/29 – 1/19) before winning another seven consecutive games.
• Griffin and Auguste were named as Sun Conference Players of the Week, as Griffin received the honor on January 22^nd and Auguste on January 29^th.

The St. Thomas University Women's Basketball team has concluded, thank you to the coaching staff and players for their commitment and effort to the program this season, as well as to the fans for their continued support.

-STU-