Florida Memorial University Sports Information

Women's Basketball 2/7/2020 2:19:00 PM J.T. Wilcox, Sports Information Director & Ivana Maric

Lady Lions Hope To Top St. Thomas During FMU’s Final Basketball Homecoming

AT A GLANCE
FMU Lions (11-12, 6-7) vs. St. Thomas Bobcats (9-14, 6-7)
When: Saturday, February 8, 2020
Where: Florida Memorial, Miami Gardens, Fla. | FMU Wellness Center
Tip-Off: 2 p.m.
Last Meeting: December 7, 2019, Loss 50-62
Live Stream Video & Stats: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/fmulions/index.htm

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – If the pressure of performing during the heightened intensity that comes along with playing against a rival, during homecoming no less, wasn't enough, Florida Memorial University's women will also be trying to keep pace in the Sun Conference standings when they host neighborhood rival St. Thomas University Saturday at 2 p.m. in the FMU Wellness Center.

Saturday's game will be the opening salvo in what is a full day of festivities going on at Florida Memorial for its annual homecoming. The women's game will precede the men's game between the programs and there are multiple special presentations scheduled during and between the games as it will be the school's final basketball homecoming. FMU will be moving its annual homecoming to coincide with the fall season of its rebirthed football program. The first fall homecoming has a projected date of October 10.

FMU enters Saturday's game having had a week to flush their loss to No. 1 Southeastern University this past weekend (Feb. 1).

The Lady Lions (11-12, 6-7 Sun Conference) have been teetering around the .500 mark for the past few weeks, but still have a grip on the sixth – and final qualifying spot – spot in the conference standings.

St. Thomas (9-14, 6-7) has an identical conference record with FMU, but STU owns the tiebreaker through head-to-head competition – which makes Saturday's game that much more important for the Lady Lions.

The Bobcats took the first meeting between the programs – a 62-50 game that was closer than what the final score would suggest. St. Thomas has struggled recently, though. The Bobcats enter Saturday's game as losers of four of their past six and sport just a 3-6 road record this season.

But Florida Memorial is a much different team than it was two months ago.

Senior Isis Lane remains the team's stalwart – leading in both scoring and rebounding – but guard Airneisha Gamble has become another consistent offensive presence for head coach Gregory Stanback's squad. Gamble has scored 10 or more points in eight consecutive games and should serve as an tangible difference maker against the Bobcats, as she was not available during the first game between the teams.

Manufacturing a victory Saturday will come down to a familiar and elementary formula for the Lady Lions. Florida Memorial must receive offensive contributions from more than just one or two players. In December's meeting, Lane turned in a 23-point, 14-rebound double-double and Shawnice King added 11 points, but no other FMU player added more than seven points. It's not hard to comprehend why Florida Memorial has seen its most success when it has gotten palpable contributions from players like freshman center Ixsamar Gonzalez, Danielle Bailey, Brittney Howard, and Ashleign Gary.