WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (December 18, 2022) - The great season starting run continues with St. Thomas University Women's Basketball as Head Coach, Candace Walker, continues to lead the team to the hottest start in program history. The Bobcats defeated Brescia College (1-12) 79-49 for their 14th win of the season and closed out the West Palm Beach Invitational unblemished at 2-0.  

St. Thomas came out the gate with Kasey Gagan driving to the basket and picking up the first bucket with a lay-in. Both teams would trade buckets and the lead twice. Gagan would bank a three to give the Bobcats the lead at 7-6 and would not look back from there. The quarter would end on a 19-4 run to make it 23-10. 

Brooke Bogatz would steal the first possession of the second quarter and take the fast break lay-up to extend the lead. Paige McDonald would establish her defensive presence with back-to-back blocks, two of her nine that would set a program record for most by a Bobcat in a single game. The momentum led the to a three-point basket from Bria Brown and a fastbreak lay-up from McDonald. The defense only allowed four points through the first seven minutes, seven in the whole second quarter. 

Five fast point breaks to start the third quarter extended the lead to 36 points, the largest of the game. Brescia was able to bring the deficit down to 26 by the end of the quarter. St. Thomas cruised to victory allowing just 11 points in the fourth quarter. 

Both forwards, Connieya Bradford and Paige McDonald recorded double doubles in points and rebounds to lead the way. The team also set a record for blocks in a single game in program history with 13. St. Thomas defense added their 13th quarter with allowing under 10 points.  

The Bobcats will look ahead to their biggest challenge of the season so far against no. 7 Indiana Wesleyan at home on Tuesday, December 20 with tip-off set for 2 p.m. 

-STU-