MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (January 7, 2022) – Sun Conference action continued this week with the St. Thomas University (STU) Women's Basketball team (14-5, 5-2 SUN) heading home to the Fernandez Family Center gym on Saturday afternoon. The marquee matchup welcomed the Fire of Southeastern University (7-10, 4-3). In a slow starting game, it was the Fire to heat up in the end and take it 77-69.
 
Southeastern opened the game with a three pointer that was quickly countered with a three from Bria Brown. A seven-point lead was flipped on the scoreboard as Marta Franco sparked a 10-2 run with five points of her own to make it 16-15 with just over a minute of play in the first quarter. A costly buzzer foul would give SEU free throw opportunities and was used to take a one-point lead into the second quarter.
 
The Fire once again start the quarter with a three-point basket to gain some cushion in their lead. Brook Bogatz drove to the basket and scored a layup, then gathered the defense rebound to set up free throw for Paige McDonals to knock down and tie the game back up 20 all just a minute and 15 seconds into the second frame. After more than two and a half minutes of scoreless basketball, Brown took advantage of a pair of free throws and gave STU a two-point lead. Three score changes later, it was SEU to gain space and take a 32-30 lead into the half.
 
Three straight three pointers from the number three on both ends got things started in the first 47 seconds of the second half, two of which came from a Fire player. Mya Moye shut down the run with a three-point basket of her own. As teams continued to trade baskets, St. Thomas brought it within a possession but ultimately trailed by four heading into the final frame as Moye hit another three.
 
Franco and Connieya Bradford earned two baskets to keep it within a one possession game. Moye cashed in one two baskets from distance to bring it to 65-64 as STU trailed by one with 4:05 on the clock. Kasey Gagan then followed a Fire layup with a shot from downtown to tie it at 67 all and a race to the finish. The game would ultimately come down to a costly turnover with 14 seconds left as STU had a five second violation on the inbound that would force the team to foul and send Southeastern to the free throw line. SEU hit both free throws and closed out the game with hitting four straight.
 
Box Score Notables

• Both teams brought down 43 boards, STU led on the offensive end with 14.
• There were six ties and six lead changes in the game,
• St. Thomas had only eight turnovers in the game and forced nine.
• The Bobcat bench outscored the Fire 24-0.
• St. Thomas scored more points in the paint and earned more second chance points.
• This was the most points scored against Southeastern since 2015.

 
Final Stat Lines

• Paige McDonald – eight points, 11 rebounds
• Kasey Gagan – 10 points, four rebounds, two assists
• Mya Moye – 12 points, five rebounds, 4-7 3PM