MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (February 7, 2024) - Round two of the Battle of Miami Gardens took place on Wednesday, and this time, the St. Thomas University (STU) Women's Basketball team traveled down the road to play at Florida Memorial University. The Bobcats defeated the Lions 61-49 with Sophie Vandyke leading the charge with a double-double performance.
In quarter one, the Bobcats had the chance to find their momentum and run with it. The Bobcats went 66.7% from behind the arc, their accuracy contributing to their success in the quarter. Sophie Vandyke started her run, putting up six points in favor of the Bobcats. Brooke Bogatz and Marta Franco each notched five points of their own. Soon after breaking the 6-6 tie, the Bobcats went on a strong run, outscoring the Lions 18-9 at the end of quarter one.
The Bobcats maintained the lead in quarter two, outscoring the Lions 12-10. Vandyke put up another four points, entering double-digit territory. Vandyke finished the match with 14 points and 11 rebounds, earning another double-double performance. St. Thomas entered halftime with a double-figure lead with a score of 30-19 for the first half.
Quarter three saw St. Thomas keeping the momentum from the first half. Bria Brown went on a solid run, recording seven points in the third quarter, contributing to her total of 10 points. Vandyke added another four rebounds to her total. Franco and Ra'Nae Tumblin also put up three rebounds apiece in quarter three. Both players had standout performances when it came to rebounds, Franco finishing the game with 11 rebounds and Tumblin finishing with nine. The Bobcats led 46-33 heading into the final quarter.
The Bobcats continued to battle in quarter four. The Lions outscored the Bobcats by one point but were unable to close in. Paige McDonald went on a great run, recording seven points against the Lions, contributing to her total of 13 points for the game. McDonald also notched two more rebounds, adding to her total of five. St. Thomas maintained the lead, defeating Florida Memorial 61-49, making the Bobcats 2-0 against the Lions in the 2023-24 season. This win brings the Bobcats to a 17-5 overall record and 7-2 in Sun Conference play.
Up next, the Bobcats will host Warner University on Saturday, February 10th at 2 p.m.
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