Skip To Main Content
Skip To Main Content

Florida Memorial University Athletics

Scoreboard

FMU player
Charles Bethel Jr.
55
Warner University WUWBB 5-8, 0-6
76
Winner Florida Memorial University FMUW 4-4, 4-3
Warner University WUWBB
5-8, 0-6
55
Final
76
Florida Memorial University FMUW
4-4, 4-3
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Warner University WUWBB 15 12 16 12 55
Florida Memorial University FMUW 10 26 20 20 76

Game Recap: Women's Basketball | | J.T. Wilcox, Sports Information Director

FMU Shakes Off Early Rust, Dominates Warner Saturday

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – Having not played a game in just over two weeks, it was no surprise that Florida Memorial University's women's basketball team would be a little rusty Saturday.
 
The Lady Lions missed their first nine shots and committed four turnovers and didn't break the seal on the rim until the 3:44 mark of the first quarter, but flipped the proverbial script over the next 36 minutes – using its defensive pressure to create turnovers and scoring opportunities to manufacture a 76-55 victory over visiting Warner University.
 
Florida Memorial (4-4, 4-3 The Sun Conference) turned a 15-10 first quarter deficit into a 36-27 lead by halftime and continued to put the hammer down on the Royals in the second half – outscoring Warner in both quarters to build the final 21-point margin.
 
FMU was led by Keaynna Tolbert's game-high 22 points – matching her Sun Conference-leading per game average. The Orlando, Florida native also added 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals for the Lions – who are set to continue their New Year home stand when it they host Thomas University on Jan. 7.
 
Two other Lady Lions finished with double-digit points, Jamari Tillman with 16 and Chantel Barnett with 13 points in just 17 minutes of action.
 
Freshman guard Micah Cooper had one of her best outings of the season, finishing with 8 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals. Cheyanne Whitfield tied – with two Royals – for the game-high in total rebounds with 9 while also registering a team-high 4 steals.0
 
Where Florida Memorial really flexed its muscles, Saturday was on the defensive end. FMU head coach Gregory Stanback has employed multiple defensive schemes this season, but his full-court and half-court traps stymied the Royals' guards and forced Warner University (5-8, 0-6) into 24 turnovers – 19 coming on steals – and turned those turnovers into 30 points.
 
The 55 points allowed Saturday was also the fewest that FMU has allowed this season – a point of emphasis for Stanback as his squad came into the game as the No. 9 team in the Sun Conference in points allowed per game.
 
Florida Memorial erased its first quarter deficit and took its first lead of the day with an 8-2 spurt to start the second. Warner University, which was led in scoring by Alysa Augustin's 20 points, took a 19-18 lead at the 5:56 mark of the second and that would be the last time it would hold an advantage over FMU on the day as the Lions outscored the Royals 18-8 the rest of the way.
 
Warner University never truly threatened the Lions in the second half – only getting as close as nine late in the third quarter – as Florida Memorial continued to build on its lead in the second half.
 
Follow Florida Memorial University Athletics on social media
Instagram: @GoFMULions/@FMUWBB | Twitter: @GoFMULions | YouTube: Official FMU Lions
Print Friendly Version