5-Seed FMU Look To Topple 4-Seed Webber International In Sun Conference Tourney Opening Round

AT A GLANCE
FMU Lions (14-14, 8-10) at Webber International Warriors (17-11, 11-7)
When: Tuesday, February 25, 2020
Where: Webber International, Babson Park, Fla. | Sabbagh Athletic Center
Tip-off: 6 p.m.
Last Meeting: Jan. 25, 2020, Loss 63-61
Live Stream Video & Stats: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/webber/

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – One of the great things about college basketball is its version of the postseason. Unlike the professional leagues that work on a best-of series format, the collegiate game is the ultimate "win or go home" stage. The "best team" has to make sure that it indeed is the best team on that given night – or else.

No. 5 seed Florida Memorial University will be out to prove that it is the best team on the floor Tuesday night when it travels to Babson Park, Florida to take on No. 4 seed Webber International University in the opening round of the Sun Conference women's basketball tournament at 6 p.m. in Webber's Sabbagh Athletic Center.

The Lady Lions and Warriors are two of six qualifying teams in the conference's postseason tourney. The top two seeds – Southeastern University and College of Coastal Georgia – received first-round byes, while the remaining four teams will play in the opening round with the higher seeds hosting the games.

FMU (14-14, 8-10 Sun Conference) earned the No. 5 seed thanks to owning a common opponent tiebreaker with No. 6 seed Ave Maria, setting up the first-round showdown with Webber International (17-11, 11-7).

In facing the Lady Warriors, Florida Memorial will be taking on a team that it split contests with during the regular season. FMU won the first meeting between the programs, a 72-66 November victory for the Lions on Webber's home floor.

The Warriors stole the second game away from FMU in the FMU Wellness Center, winning the January 25th tilt 63-61 after Florida Memorial's last-second, potentially game-winning shot went errant.

What's been a constant in the two meetings is the competitiveness of both games. Neither team completely flexed their muscle on the other – both would have flashes and make runs, but both games ultimately went to the team that was able to make plays – or avoid mistakes – in clutch moments.

When FMU had its most success against Webber International – and anyone else for that matter – it's been when multiple players have given Lions head coach Gregory Stanback tangible offensive contributions.

In the Lions' win over Webber, Isis Lane, Shawnice King, and Airneisha Gamble all scored 15 points or more – with Lane and King each totaling 17. Danielle Bailey and Ashleign Gary even combined for 17 points – giving FMU a total of 66 points from their starting lineup in that game.

When the Warriors got the better of FMU; it was in a game where only two Lions players scored in double figures, they shot just 27 percent from the field, and lost the rebound battle (51-41). Even with all of that working against it, Florida Memorial – which rallied from 16-point fourth quarter deficit – still had a chance to win that game.

Defensively, Florida Memorial has shown that it can slow down Webber International. In both games, FMU has held the Warriors below their season average for points per game (69.1). Where Stanback must make his squad shores up is in its defending of Warriors 6-foot sophomore Taniya Patrick. Patrick has also hurt the Lions on the backboard as well, grabbing 19 rebounds in the two games against FMU.

FMU should look to use its size advantage in Lane – operating more in the high post – and freshman center Ixsamar Gonzalez. The 6-foot-1 Gonzalez has turned into a solid low-post option for the Lions and works well alongside Lane on both ends of the floor.