WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (December 17, 2022) – St. Thomas University (STU) Women's Basketball (13-0, 5-0 SUN) continues to roll over opponents picking up their 13^th win of the season over University of Saint Francis to kick off the West Palm Beach Invitational hosted by Keiser University. This extends the win streak to 13 as well as keeping the undefeated season intact. St. Thomas is one of seven teams left undefeated in the the NAIA and one of three to have 13 or more wins.
 
The Bobcats had a slow start to the game falling behind 8-3 quickly. Bria Brown stepped up big this game starting off with a three-point basket to tie the game up at 13 all halfway through the first. Mya Moye picked up. The defensive rebound in the next Cougar possession and trucked it down to knock down a three for the lead. After toggling the scoreboard, a bit, St. Thomas was able to take an eight-point lead into the second quarter.
 
Connieya Bradford and Marta Franco collected a pair of baskets to extend the lead to double digits. This quarter would really help create separation in the game that would help hold the victory in the end. St. Thomas outscored Saint Francis 20-11 for their lowest scoring quarter of the game. 14 of the points came within the first five-minute run where the Cougars only hit one basket. Brown hit back-to-back three and caught the hot hand to make it a 20-point gap.
 
Three Bobcats were in double figures through the first half in Brooke Bogatz, Moye,and Brown. Bogatz hit 15 in the first quarter; Brown led the second with nine. The defense forced eight turnovers in the first half, five in the first quarter. The Bobcats have not trailed heading into halftime yet this season and have only trailed once after the first quarter.
 
The third quarter was even with both teams scoring 18 points, that would hold the Bobcat lead at 17. The Cougars would start showing a defensive presence with an 18-11 rebound advantage. Kasey Gagan came alive in the third scoring eight points in six minutes. STU had their largest lead in the third at 66-42, a 24-point deficit.
 
The fourth quarter saw the biggest scoring quarter for Saint Francis as they shot 52-percent from the field for 28 points.
 
The offense ball control was one to admire today allowing just four turnovers and generating 17 assists. The third quarter saw clean basketball for STU with no turnovers, and just one in the second half. Bogatz and Brown finished with 24- and 20-point performances, respectively. This is the seventh straight game scoring 80 or more points, the eighth all season.
 
St. Thomas will continue their run at the invitational in day two against Brescia University tomorrow, December 18 at 1 p.m. from the Student Life Center in West Palm Beach.