FMU Looking To Extend Winning Streak, Hosts Keiser Thursday

AT A GLANCE
FMU Lions (6-4, 6-3) vs. Keiser Seahawks (7-6, 4-4)
When: Thursday, January 14, 2021
Where: Florida Memorial, Miami Gardens, Fla. | FMU Wellness Center
Tip-off: 6 p.m.
Last Meeting: Nov. 21, 2020, Win 83-80 (OT)
Live Stream: Link
Live Stats: Link

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – Riding the confidence that comes along with being on a three-game winning streak, Florida Memorial University's women's basketball team will be looking to extend that winning streak when it hosts Keiser University Thursday night in the FMU Wellness Center.

The women's game is set for a 6 p.m. tip-off and will be the opener in usual women-men Sun Conference doubleheader – with the men's game starting 30 minutes after the conclusion of the women's game. Per university rules, no fans will be allowed to attend the game. Fans will be able to view the game via a free online live stream.

FMU (6-4, 6-3 The Sun Conference) has enjoyed playing inside the friendly confines of its "Lions' Den" since the turn of the calendar. The Lions opened their home stand – and the New Year – with a 21-point win over Warner University; followed that up with an 82-70 victory over Webber International; and put on a dominant performance this past Saturday in their 77-59 win over College of Coastal Georgia.

In those three games, Florida Memorial has shown that it is capable of putting the clamps on teams with its defense – much to the delight of head coach Gregory Stanback. The Lions allowed its two fewest point totals (55 and 59 respectively) of the season and held all three of its opponents to 40 percent or lower shooting from the field.

While FMU's defense has been on the uptick, its offense continued booming at its typical rate. The team crossed the 80-point threshold for the fourth time this season – against Webber – and maintained its spot as the No. 1 scoring offense in the Sun Conference.

Junior Keaynna Tolbert did her part in that as she set a new season-high for points scored in a single game with her 35-point performance this past Saturday. Tolbert also earned Sun Conference Player of the Week honors thanks to her two-game stretch from this past week.

Looking to play spoiler Thursday will be a Keiser University team that has two of its past three games. Notably, the Seahawks' (7-6, 4-4) loss during that stretch was a 61-59 defeat at the hands of Webber International – a team the Lions defeated by 12 recently.

Still, Keiser University has proven itself to be a more than formidable foe for Florida Memorial over the years – the past three meetings between the programs have been decided by three points or less, including FMU's 83-80 overtime victory over the Seahawks back on November 21st.

Keiser senior guard Emily Patton remains the focus of the Lions' defensive scouting report. The sharpshooter and 2019-20 second team All-Conference performer leads Keiser with 17.1 points per game this season and is the conference leader in three-point percent and total three-pointers made. She was a perfect 5-of-5 from three-point range against the Lions in the first meeting and scored 25 points.

The way FMU was able to get the better of Keiser in the first matchup was with its defense. Florida Memorial had 24 steals and forced the Seahawks into 38 turnovers – the Lions' defensive recipe for success this season and something they'll be looking to do again Thursday.

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Instagram: @GoFMULions/@FMUWBB | Twitter: @GoFMULions | YouTube: Official FMU Lions

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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