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Florida Memorial University Athletics

Scoreboard

FMU player
Charles Bethel Jr.
72
St. Thomas STU 11-16, 7-9
80
Winner Florida Memorial FMU 16-9, 11-5
St. Thomas STU
11-16, 7-9
72
Final
80
Florida Memorial FMU
16-9, 11-5
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
St. Thomas STU 20 16 17 19 72
Florida Memorial FMU 15 23 24 18 80

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

Barnett Has Big Night, FMU WBB Advances Past St. Thomas University To TSC Tourney Semifinals

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – Sophomore Chantel Barnett scored a game-high 24 points and was one of five Florida Memorial University players to finish with double-figure points as the 3-seed Lions outlasted visiting 6-seed St. Thomas University to pick up an 80-72 victory Tuesday night in the opening round of the Sun Conference Tournament.
 
With the win on their home floor in front of a boisterous crowd, the Lions (16-9) advance to the tournament's semifinal round, where it will faceoff with 2-seed Webber International University on Friday (Feb. 25) at 7:15 p.m. at final four host No. 1 seed Southeastern University in Lakeland, Florida.
 
How It Happened
  • FMU opened a 12-point lead (68-56) within the first two minutes of the fourth quarter after a Barnett layup.
  • Left to play catch-up throughout the fourth, St. Thomas tried to chip away at the Lions' lead – getting as close as four (73-69) with 1:43 left to play.
  • The Lions' ability to knock down free throws in the clutch was big as the Bobcats were forced to intentionally foul over the final minute of the game.
  • Barnett and Monique Esbrand each made two free throws over the final minute while Aliyah-Deen Ahmad sank three – including the final shot from the charity stripe that made the final 80-72 margin.
  • Florida Memorial also came up big in the second and third quarters – outscoring STU by seven points in each quarter to take control of the game.
  • The Lions kept their turnovers down, only committing 12 turnovers while St. Thomas had 20.
 
Inside The Box Score
  • Barnett shot an efficient 9-for-15 from the field and 4-of-6 from the free throw line.
  • Keaynna Tolbert finished with 14 points and 3 rebounds in 21 minutes of action before fouling out.
  • Esbrand and Ahmad each finished with 12 points.
  • Jamari Tillman added 11 points (3-for-5 from three point-range) in 27 minutes off the bench.
  • St. Thomas University was led by Chrystal Pressley, who finished with 17 points and 12 rebounds.
  • Ahmad led FMU with 9 rebounds but the Lions were out-rebounded 39-47 Tuesday.
 
Analysis & Notes
  • Barnett's 24 points was her third-highest single-game point total this season; two shy of her season-high (26), which she set against Coastal Georgia earlier this season.
  • FMU's 12 turnovers Tuesday marked the second-fewest giveaways the team has had in a game this season.
  • Barnett returned to the lineup Tuesday after missing the regular season finale – a loss at Webber International – with an undisclosed injury.
  • The Lions improve to 13-2 this season when making at least seven three-pointers as team.
  • FMU improves to 16-9 overall with a 10-3 record on its home floor this season.
  • St. Thomas University finishes its season 11-16.
 
Up Next
Friday's semifinal game against Webber International will be the third meeting between the programs this season, with the Lions hoping to win the most important one – as WIU defeated Florida Memorial in the first two games.
 
Follow Florida Memorial University Athletics on social media
Instagram: @GoFMULions/@FMUWBB | Twitter: @GoFMULions | YouTube: Official FMU Lions
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