LAKE WALES, Fla. (January 26, 2023) – Back on the road for the first time in two weeks, the St. Thomas University (STU) Women's Basketball team (16-6, 7-3) was ready for the challenge ahead against Warner University (14-8, 6-4 SUN). In a crucial conference game, it was the Bobcats who prevailed 75-74 in the final seconds at the Turner Athletics Center on Thursday evening.
 
The first quarter showed the fight that both teams were going to have to put up in order to come out on top in the end. Warner had the first bucket of the game and were able to streatch a quick 8-3 lead over the Bobcats. Down by eight with four minutes to go, STU went on a 9-2 run in two minutes to bring it within one. Warner would hold their lead through the first quarter taking a 22-19 advantage.
 
St. Thomas had some work to do to try and flip the scoreboard in the second. Marta Franco would begin to hit clutch free throws and jumpers to take the lead at 26-25 with 7:33 on the clock. The quarter would see four lead changes with the Royals taking a lead into the half at 44-40.
 
Coming back from halftime, St. Thomas found a spark and dominated outscoring Warner 22-12 in the ten-minute frame. Kasey Gagan set the tone with a drive straight to the basket to get the first bucket on the board. Mya Moye would knock down a three and a layup in back-to-back possessions to tilt the scoreboard. Franco would continue to make a key difference giving STU a two-point lead after hitting a jumper and one of two free throws. Bria Brown would hit a key three that fueled Stu to their first lead to end a quarter.
 
Heading into the final frame, St. Thomas had a 62-56 lead with just 10 short minutes away from victory. Warner would not allow it to be an easy 10-minutes as they started the quarter on a 7-0 run to regain the lead with 8:50 left on the board. After scoring their 65^th point, the Bobcat defense would shut down the Royals offense for just under five minutes not allowing a single score.
 
The ending would be a matter of who could close the deal as both teams had equal opportunities. Marta Franco would have the final laugh hitting the game winner with a drive in the paint. After two late free throws from WU gave them a one-point advantage, St. Thomas used one of the final timeouts to advance the ball. The play was drawn to give the ball to the hot hand of Moye, but tight defense had STU run an audible that led to the ball in Franco's hands and putting up the final shot that just took the right bounce in.
 
Box Score Notables

• Four Bobcats were in double figures, three were starters.
• Mya Moye led the team with 16 points and seven assists
• Kasey Gagan led in boards collecting seven. Moye and Brown had three steals each.
• There were 13 lead changes.
• St. Thomas capitalized on turnovers with 27-points.

 
Up Next
St. Thomas will stay on the road in West Palm Beach on Saturday taking on Keiser from the Student Life Center with tip-off scheduled for 2 p.m.