Charles Bethel Jr.

Women's Basketball 1/18/2021 12:33:00 PM J.T. Wilcox, Sports Information Director

Lady Lions Look To Avenge Earlier Loss At St. Thomas Tuesday

AT A GLANCE
FMU Lions (6-5, 6-4) at St. Thomas University Bobcats (9-2, 6-2)
When: Tuesday, January 19, 2021
Where: St. Thomas University, Miami Gardens, Fla. | Fernandez Family Center
Tip-off: 5:30 p.m.* (30 minutes following the men's game)
Last Meeting: Nov. 14, 2020, Loss 78-83
Live Stream: Link
Live Stats: Link

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – As much as Florida Memorial University's women's basketball team probably wanted to get back on the court this past weekend following its bland performance against Keiser University, the time off thanks to the rescheduling of its January 16th game likely did the team some good.

Getting a couple extra days to flush the loss, heal up, and prepare could prove to be a big advantage as the Lady Lions prepare to travel to play and hopefully avenge an earlier season loss against St. Thomas University Tuesday night in STU's Fernandez Family Center.

The game is set for a 5:30 p.m. tip and will be the nightcap of the "Battle of Miami Gardens" as it will be start 30 minutes following the conclusion of the men's game at 3 p.m. Fans will not be allowed to attend the games Tuesday, but will be able to watch the action via a free online live stream.

Florida Memorial (6-5, 6-4 The Sun Conference) had its three-game winning streak snapped this past Thursday in a 69-52 loss to Keiser University – a game in which the Lady Lions didn't seem to play with the same emotional spark it has in previous games this season. Worse yet, the Lions didn't get the offensive production it has become accustomed to from its top two scorers this season.

Junior Keaynna Tolbert, a two-time Sun Conference Player of the Week winner and the conference's leading scorer, tied her season-low for points with just 9 and shot a season-worst 2-for-13 from the field. Jamari Tillman, the team's second-leading scorer overall this year, had a season-low 4 points.

Lions freshman Chantel Barnett did her best to pick up the slack – totaling team-highs in points (16) and rebounds (9) – but not having Tolbert or Tillman's production was an apparent detriment. It also didn't help that the Lady Lions turned the ball over 24 times in the loss this past Thursday.

St. Thomas University (9-2, 6-2) has enjoyed a very solid season up to this point, sitting comfortably in the No. 2 spot in the Sun Conference standings, but it was recently upended by Keiser University 77-56. And despite the Bobcats winning the first matchup against FMU, the Lions essentially dominated St. Thomas University through the first three quarters of the game – even opening up a 15-point lead early in the fourth quarter – before the Lions gave a 19-3 run over the final five minutes of the game.

Two focuses for Florida Memorial head coach Gregory Stanback heading into Tuesday's game should be limiting turnovers and finding ways to collect rebounds.

Large turnover numbers have been a common theme for his team in its losses this season while he's been able to counteract the inherent rebounding disadvantage the team faces by speeding up the tempo of the game with high defensive pressure. The Lions did lose the rebounding batter to St. Thomas in the first meeting (53-31), a game FMU played without leading rebounder Anjelie Tirone. Tirone should be active for Tuesday's game.

What could loom large is the status of St. Thomas' Gianni Domond. The 5-foot-11 junior has been her team's second-leading scorer (14.9 PPG) and leading rebounder (8.8 RPG) this season, but she missed the Bobcats' last game against Keiser and her status is unknown heading into Tuesday's game.

Follow Florida Memorial University Athletics on social media
Instagram: @GoFMULions/@FMUWBB | Twitter: @GoFMULions | YouTube: Official FMU Lions

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