Lions Eyes Set On Victory As Thomas University Comes To Town

AT A GLANCE
FMU Lions (4-4, 4-3) vs. Thomas University Night Hawks (0-5, 0-5)
When: Thursday, January 7, 2021
Where: Florida Memorial, Miami Gardens, Fla. | FMU Wellness Center
Tip-off: 6 p.m.
Last Meeting: Feb. 15, 2020, Win 86-58
Live Stream: Link
Live Stats: Link

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – Whenever the schedule offers a team an opponent that's not having that great of a season, it can be easy for that team to "let their guard down" or "play down to the competition".

Florida Memorial University women's basketball team will have to avoid any type of those lulls when it hosts winless Thomas University Thursday night in the FMU Wellness Center.

The game, which will be the second in what is scheduled to be a five-game home stand for the Lions, is set for a 6 p.m. tip-off and will be the opening salvo in what will be a women-men doubleheader. The men's teams will take the floor 30 minutes following the conclusion of the women's game.

FMU (4-4, 4-3 The Sun Conference) shook off any rust it had from being on holiday break this past weekend when it overcame a slow start to dominate visiting Warner University – snapping a two-game losing streak and winning its first home game this season.

Junior guard Keaynna Tolbert matched her Sun Conference-leading point-per-game average with a game-high 22 points. Even in coming off the bench, Tolbert went on to add 6 rebounds, 3 steals and 3 assists in 32 minutes.

Also, Jamari Tillman added 16 points for the Lady Lions – marking the seventh time in eight games that she's scored 10 or more points.

Thomas University (0-5, 0-5) has had a rough go at it this season. The Night Hawks' five losses up to this point are bookended by a season-opening 29-point defeat and 21-point loss at the hands of No. 7 Southeastern University. Thomas has only scored more than 60 points once this season and averaging just over 20 turnovers per game.

Incongruously, Thomas University has three players that are turning in 13 points per game in Emiah Downie, Alexis Powell, and Destiny Reed – making the trio the obvious keys of FMU head coach Gregory Stanback's defensive game plan.

Defense has been a point of emphasis for FMU, as the Lions try to find balance in being the Sun Conference's No. 1 scoring offense yet the No. 9 scoring defense.

Stanback has used multiple defensive traps and presses to speed up opponents and generate turnovers – something Florida Memorial has done quite well this season – but will be looking to improve on its half-court defense for when the game slows down.

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

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