LAKES WALES, Fla. (January 13th, 2023) - The St. Thomas University (STU) Women's Basketball team faced Warner University on Saturday afternoon for their third match up in Sun Conference play. The Bobcats defeated the Royals in the match up, 71-62. 

In the first quarter, St. Thomas started the game strong, shooting 45% from the field, including 36.36% from beyond the arc. The team secured a lead, outscoring the Royals 22-14. Brooke Bogatz began her outstanding performance, notching six points and three assists in quarter one. Paige McDonald followed suit, putting six points and three assists of her own.  

The Royals made efforts to bounce back, outscoring the Bobcats in the second quarter, by eight points. Marta Franco was a key contributor in quarter two, scoring seven points. Warner managed to equalize with St. Thomas, the scoreboard showing 32-32 as the buzzer ran out on the first half. 

The Bobcats took the lead just seconds into the third quarter with a layup from Ra'Nae Tumblin. Franco also added to her tally with six more points, contributing to her total of 18 points for the game. Despite putting up 15 points in the quarter, the Bobcats trailed the Royals, 47-50. 

St. Thomas continued to trail against Warner in the final quarter. Eight minutes in, the Bobcats took the lead off a layup from McDonald. McDonald proved to be a key player in the final quarter, with three back-to-back field goals, adding eight points to her 18 point total. McDonald also added four assists, contributing to her eight total assists for the game. 

The Bobcats took the lead and ran with it, Bogatz notching 10 more points, adding to her 18 point total against the Royals. Bogatz also finished the match with seven assists and seven rebounds. St. Thomas sealed the victory in the final quarter, holding their ground to finish the game with a score of 71-62. This win brings the Bobcats' record to 13-3 overall for the season and 3-0 in Sun Conference play. 

Next up, the Bobcats will stick close to home, hosting two Sun Conference games. The Bobcats will first host Southeastern University on Wednesday, January 17th at 5:30 p.m. They will then host Ave Maria University on Saturday, January 20th at 2 p.m.  

-STU-