FMU WBB Looking To Stay Near Top Of Conference Standings, Hosts St. Thomas Saturday

AT A GLANCE
FMU Lions (9-6, 5-2) vs. St. Thomas University Bobcats (8-10, 4-4)
When: Saturday, January 22, 2022
Where: Florida Memorial, Miami Gardens, Fla. | FMU Wellness Center
Tip-off: 2 p.m.
Last Meeting: Nov. 13, 2021, Win 61-51
Live Stream: Link
Live Stats: Link
Tickets: General Admission $5 (Purchase)

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – Florida Memorial University will be looking to snap a two-game conference losing streak and stay near the front of the pack in the conference standings race this weekend when it hosts neighbor and Sun Conference rival St. Thomas University Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. in the FMU Wellness Center.

About The Lions (9-6, 5-2 TSC)

FMU picked up a much-needed victory this past Wednesday in a 74-45 wire-to-wire win over Florida National University.
While the Lions didn't look as sharp as they would have liked – given they committed 25 turnovers – they did play with an up-tempo pace, which is how the team created scoring opportunities.
Sophomore Chantel Barnett scored a game-high 25 points, snapping a streak of three straight games where she finished with five points of fewer, and knocked down 5-of-8 three-pointers in the process.
Monique Esbrand, Natalia Leguizamon, and Keaynna Tolbert all finished with 11 points against FNU, with Tolbert recording a double-double by also totaling a game-high 12 rebounds.
Lions head coach Gregory Stanback has had to adjust his lineups over the past handful of games as 6-foot-3 freshmen center Da'Marreya Johnson has missed the past three regular season games and senior guard Destiny Marin has missed the past two games.
The Lions defeated St. Thomas 61-51 in the first meeting between the teams earlier this season, holding the Bobcats to just 28 percent shooting from the field while forcing 21 turnovers.
FMU has lost its previous two games against Sun Conference opponents – Webber International University and No. 2 Southeastern University – after winning five consecutive TSC games and currently sits in third place in the conference standings.

Scouting St. Thomas (8-10, 4-4 TSC)

St. Thomas University enters the weekend as losers of two of its past three games – with the two losses coming to Southeastern and Webber International.
The Bobcats have seen their fortunes as a team take a precipitous fall since they began the season 7-3, going 1-7 since December 11th.
To STU's credit, five of those seven recent losses were by six points or less.
Senior guard Kasey Gagan leads St. Thomas in scoring this season, posting 13.1 points per game through 18 games.
Bobcats head coach Candace Walker has led the program to two NAIA National Tournament appearances in her five-year tenure but has also finished with 10 or more loss in four out of her five seasons – including this year.

Series History

Florida Memorial trails the all-time series between the programs 4-12 but has won the previous two meetings between the teams.
The Lions are 3-5 against St. Thomas when playing on its home floor.

Keys To Victory

FMU's defensive intensity and ability to speed up STU's guards will be a big factor. The Lions have looked their best when they've been able to play in transition opposed to trying to generate points in the half court.
Even in playing at a faster pace, which comes with a built-in number of turnovers, Florida Memorial must play cleaner and not surrender the ball itself and allow St. Thomas to extra possessions.

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

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