LAKELAND, Fla. (February 26, 2021) - Second-seeded St. Thomas University Women's Basketball (19-4) defeated the third-seed Webber International University Warriors (17-10) 72-66 Friday evening in the Sun Conference Tournament Semifinal round from "The Furnace" on the campus of Southeastern University. 

St. Thomas is back in the Sun Conference tournament title game for the second-time under Head Coach Candace Walker, and for the first-time since the 2017-18 season. 

Game Starters:
Patricia Martinez-Sanz - Guard
Kayla Rodriguez - Guard
Samaria August - Guard
Gianni Domond - Forward
Chrystal Pressley - Forward

Game Notes:

• Rodriguez scored the first five points of the game for STU, giving the Bobcats an early 5-0 lead. 
• August capped off an 8-0 run for St. Thomas, nailing her first three-pointer of the game. 
• Rodriguez continued the early momentum for STU, hitting her second three-pointer of the first quarter, and extending the lead to 11-4.
• The Warriors cut the Bobcat lead to 12-10 with a 6-1 run over 2:48 in the first quarter.
• Brooke Bogatz and Sun Conference First-Team member, Anari Dozier, led an 11-0 run to end the first quarter with STU leading 23-12.
• Bogatz book-ended the run with two, three-pointers, while Dozier recorded two free-throws and a three-point make of her own. 
• Dozier didn't let the quarter break halt her momentum, as the junior scored the first seven points of the second quarter for STU, extending the lead to 30-12.
• Dozier capped off an 18-0 run for St. Thomas by hitting two consecutive three-pointers.
• The Warriors briefly paused the run by making a free throw, putting the score at 30-13. 
• STU then followed with another six unanswered points, led by four from Martinez-Sanz, bringing the run to 24-3 and putting the score at 36-15.
• Dozier added her third three-point make of the second quarter to put the score at 39-20.
• Dozier closed the first half with another jumper make, sending the game into halftime with St. Thomas leading 44-24.
• Dozier totaled an astounding 18-points in the first half, shooting 5-6 from the field and making all four of her three-point attempts, while adding three steals.
• STU shot 75% from beyond the arc, with Rodriguez, August, Dozier and Bogatz all recording a three-point make. 
• The Bobcats controlled the lead the entire first half, shooting 75% from the three-point line. 
• Domond, a Sun Conference First-Team representative for STU, got her first points of the semifinal round in the opening minutes of the third quarter. 
• Rodriguez followed with her third three-pointer of the game to put the score at 49-28 with 6:31 remaining. 
• WIU took the remaining six-minutes of the third quarter and rallied for a 22-2 run, putting the score at 51-50 in favor of the Bobcats, entering the fourth quarter.
• Webber began the fourth quarter by continuing its run, and taking a 58-51 lead.
• August brought the Bobcats back within two, 58-56, with a three-point make.
• Rodriguez put the Bobcats ahead, 60-58, with another three-point make.
• WIU followed with a three-pointer of their own, reclaiming the lead, 61-60.
• Keaubree Edwards sank consecutive free throw attempts to put the score at 62-61 for STU.
• Back-to-back baskets from Domond gave St. Thomas a 66-63 lead with two-minutes remaining.
• Edwards hit a dagger lay-up, off an assist from August, to bring the score to 70-66 in the final minute.
• Domond iced the game with a pair of free throws, sending STU to back to the Sun Conference title game. 

MVBobcats:
Anari Dozier- 21 points, four rebounds, 3 steals, 4-7 3PM
Kayla Rodriguez- 17 points, 4-6 3PM

Upcoming:

The number two seed St. Thomas University Bobcats head to The Sun Conference Finals to face off against Sun Conference regular season champion Southeastern in "The Furnace" on February 27. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.

-STU-