Lions To Host Webber International Saturday

AT A GLANCE
FMU Lions (3-2, 3-1) vs. Webber International University Warriors (5-1, 2-1)
When: Saturday, December 5, 2020
Where: Florida Memorial, Miami Gardens, Fla. | FMU Wellness Center
Tip-off: 2 p.m.
Last Meeting: Feb. 25, 2020, Loss 70-74
Live Stream: Link
Live Stats: Link

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – When Florida Memorial University's women's basketball team steps on its home floor Saturday, it'll have a couple of storylines playing in the background that should provide an extra bit of motivation to come away with a win.

Because of the way FMU's schedule shook out, this weekend will be the last time the Lady Lions play a game on the Wellness Center floor during the 2020 calendar year. Also, Florida Memorial currently sits atop the Sun Conference standings and could increase its lead if it can hand undefeated – and second place conference team – Webber International University its first loss of the season when the two meet at 2 p.m. Saturday.

Per Florida Memorial University COVID-19 protocols, no fans will be allowed to attend the game. It will, however, be streamed live online and be viewed free of charge.

The Lions, who won't host a home game again until January 2nd, 2021, enter the big conference showdown as a rested squad, having played its last game – an exhibition at Florida Gulf Coast University – more than a week ago since their game against Southeastern University was moved from its original date of December 3 to December 12.

Extra rest and extra preparation time should pay dividends for FMU head coach Gregory Stanback as he game plans to face a Webber International team that has played the Lions (3-2, 3-1 The Sun Conference) tough in recent history – with the last four meetings between the teams being decided by eight points or less.

The programs met three times this past season; FMU won the first meeting by six on Webber's home floor, but the Warriors took the next two showdowns – including knocking Florida Memorial out of the Sun Conference postseason tournament quarterfinals – by a combined six points.

Florida Memorial's metaphorical engine revs at the foot of junior guard Keaynna Tolbert. Tolbert, who earned Sun Conference Player of the Week honors for her performances the week of Nov. 15-21, has quickly cemented herself as one of the top scorers in the conference, averaging 24.6 points per game (on 49 percent shooting) and has a scored at least 18 points in all five games this season.

While it would appear that Webber International (5-1, 2-1) has amassed a bulk of its wins by feasting on moderate opponents, the Warriors do have a solid scorer of their own in 5-foot-6 guard Paris Copeland. The senior is turning in just over 18 points per contest while also leading the team in three-pointers made.

Where Webber could pose a threat to the Lions would be in the frontcourt. The Warriors have a pair of centers both measuring 6-feet or taller in Thalia Jackson (6-foot) and Rushell Jacob (6-foot-1). Jackson is typically the starter, but Jacob has earned a start this season as well, and they combine to average 14 rebounds per game.

In the face of playing mostly-guard lineups, FMU has done a good job of finding ways to flip the math of the rebound margin. The Lions are 2-1 in the three games this season where they lost the rebound battle – aided by the fact that they're averaging 16 steals per game and are generating 26 points per game off of opponents' turnovers.

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Players Mentioned

#23 Keaynna Tolbert: G; 5' 7"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#23 Keaynna Tolbert
: 5' 7"; Junior
: G

Florida Memorial University Athletics

Scoreboard

Players Mentioned

#23 Keaynna Tolbert

Players Mentioned

#23 Keaynna Tolbert