MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (February 23, 2021) - For the third time in the Candace Walker-era, the St. Thomas University (STU) Women's Basketball teams enters the Sun Conference tournament as the second seed, with the programs eyes set on winning the championship for the first time since 2014-15.

The Bobcats make their return to the Sun Conference tournament after missing out in 2019-20. During her tenure, Walker is 1-2 in the Sun Conference tournament as the Bobcats bench boss. 

"Coming off a disappointing season, our goal from the beginning of this year was to turn things around," said Walker. "As a result, we were able to put together a successful regular season and secure the second seed for the Sun Conference tournament. That's a testament to our players and coaching staff's dedication to maintaining our winning culture."

STU finished the 2020-21 season with a 17-4 record (0.810) and 14-4 in the Sun Conference. Over the final month of the regular season, the Bobcats won 7-of-8 games, including two wins against Sun Conference Quarterfinals opponent Ave Maria. St. Thomas swept the season series against Ave Maria, winning each game by at least 15-points. 

Despite all the success that the regular season brought to St. Thomas, Walker has her team focused, knowing each game is "win or go home." Walker continued, "playoff basketball is the most exciting time of the year. Ave Maria is a hard-working, high-energy team, so we know that we have to bring our A-game tonight in our home gym to advance."

Throughout the season, Gianni Domond was a dominant presence for the Bobcats, as the junior enjoyed a career-year. Domond's breakout campaign included three stellar games against the Gyrenes, where she averaged 15 points-per-game and 7.3 rebounds-per-game. 

The Bobcats protected home court in 2020-21, finishing with a 9-1 record at the Fernandez Family Center. In Walker's four seasons as the Head Coach at St. Thomas University, STU is a combined 37-10 in front of the "Fernandez Fanatics."

As STU finishes preparations for the Sun Conference Tournament, Walker has continued to remind her team what their focus was when preseason started in September. "Our mentality as we enter the tournament has remained consistent since the beginning of the season, one game at a time," added Walker. "Our players have worked day-in and day-out since September for the chance to play for a Sun Conference Championship, and now we have the opportunity to do so."

 The Bobcats pursuit of the Sun Conference Championship begins against Ave Maria from the Fernandez Family Center on Tuesday evening, with tip-off scheduled for 5:30 p.m.

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