DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The Thomas University women's basketball team lives to fight another day.  The fifth-seeded Lady Night Hawks upset the fourth-seeded Lady Eagles of Embry-Riddle tonight on the road 72-61 in the quarterfinals of the Sun Conference tournament.
 
Tonight's victory marks the first post-season win for the Thomas University women's basketball team in the program's history.
 
Courtney Saunds had a career night for the Lady Night Hawks scoring a game high of 36 points.  This total sets a new single-game record for Saunds in her storied career.  So far in her only season with Thomas, Saunds has now accumulated 539 points.  Fellow senior Jessica Anderson was the only other Lady Night Hawk in double figures scoring 10 points.  Ivory Smith had a dominate game on the boards bringing down a game high 10 rebounds.
 
The first half of play was a prize fight between the underdog and hometown favorite.  Immediately from the tip, the Lady Night Hawks pushed the pace.  They jumped out to a 7-0 lead in the first four and half minutes of play.  The Lady Eagles committed four consecutive turnovers on their first four possessions on the offensive floor.  ERAU attempted its first shot of the game with 16:48 remaining until the break.
 
While Thomas continued to lead throughout much of the first half, the Lady Eagles clawed back into the contest to take the 13-11 lead with 10:48 left on the clock.  ERAU would continue on a 9-1 run to stretch their lead to a first half height of nine, 27-18, before Thomas stormed back on a 10-1 run to tie the game at 28-28 heading into the intermission.
 
Thomas carried their momentum into the second frame scoring the first bucket, but then laid dormant the next six minutes of play.  The Lady Eagles would once again power out to a nine point, 41-32 lead with 14:59 left in regulation.
 
With their back against the wall, the Lady Night Hawks regrouped and took the 45-43 lead off a three-pointer from the corner by Shamari Josey with 10:54 remaining on the clock.  Thomas continued to push with each possession. 
 
The Lady Night Hawks increased their lead to 67-56 with just under a minute remaining.  In the final 12 seconds of the game, Saunds finished off the fourth-seeded Lady Eagles netting two free throws ending the game with the 72-61 victory in Thomas' favor.
 
Head coach Coretta Brown reflected on the contest, "This was a great win for our program.  I absolutely love the hunger I'm seeing from these ladies."
 
The Lady Night Hawks now move on to face the Sun Conference tournament's No. 1 seed St. Thomas University on Friday, Feb. 27, in Miami Gardens, Fla.  STU beat eighth-seeded Warner University 66-52 to advance to the semifinal.  Tipoff is set for 7:00 p.m.
 
For up-to-date information on this game and other TU Athletics, visit http://www.TUNightHawks.com. Stay up-to-date with news, scores, photos, game summaries, play-by-play, and feature stories of your TU women's basketball team by following them via Twitter at @NightHawksWBKB.