Box Score

THOMASVILLE, Ga. – The #4 seeded Thomas University Lady Night Hawks basketball team (14-13), will soar into the Sun Conference Tournament Semi-Finals, after knocking off #5 Keiser University (14-16), 59-48, on Tuesday evening, at the TU Gymnasium, in the TSC Tournament quarter final round.

A Slow start for both teams founds the teams locked into a one point, 6-5, game in favor of TU. From that point forward the Lady Night Hawks slowly started to seize control of the game. Two free throws by senior Bria Joyner-Williams made it a three point game and a lay –up by senior Bra'shey Ali gave TU a 10-5 lead that awakened the "Silent Night Hawks". Junior Rayven Thomas followed up with a bucket of her own, extending the lead to 7 with 2:34 to play in the quarter. A three pointer and a bucket by TU closed out the first quarter with a 14-8 lead for the Night Hawks.

Keiser opened the second quarter with a deuce, making it a six point game, but TU held the Sea Hawks scoreless over the next six minutes, taking a commanding 24-10 lead. Two free throws by KU ended the scoreless streak and a seven point run made it a 24-17 game with 2:20 to play. Joyner-Williams would stop the KU run with 1:30 to play but Keiser would respond with five unanswered points to close the margin to four, 26-22, with forty four seconds to play. Junior Shaunice Bennett converted one of two from the charity, sending TU into the locker room with a 27-22 advantage.

The third quarter remained scoreless until Ali , with a half court drive and lay-up, made it a 29-22 game at the 7:45 but KU responded with six unanswered points, over the next two minutes, to tie the game at 29. Fifty seconds later, Keiser would take their first lead since the early going of the game on a free throw for the 30-29 advantage. Ali would tie the game for TU and freshman De'Audra Copeland would help TU re-take the lead (32-30). The teams would exchange buckets but a three pointer by sophomore Tess Wright would give Thomas a 39-34 advantage with 1:30 to play. The Sea Hawks, once again, struck back, dropping five consecutive points to tie the game at 39 with thirty seconds left in the third, setting up what seemed to be a dramatic fourth quarter.

Thomas, looking to secure their spot in the TSC semi's, was not in the mood for drama, running away with game on a nine point run over the first half of the quarter, to take a 48-39 advantage. After a couple of KU points, the Lady Night Hawks, with less than two minutes to play, extended their margin to fourteen, 58-44, on a mid-range bucket from senior Laura Cherranfant, ending any hope of a Keiser comeback. Sloppy play down the stretch by TU, helped Keiser make the scoreboard look respectable as Thomas closed out the historical victory.

Ali and Thomas led TU in scoring with 13. Ali also collected 14 rebounds for her 14^th double-double of the year. The win marked the first home post-season victory for the third year program.

With the historic victory, the Lady Night Hawks, making their second straight appearance in the semi-final round, will face #1 seeded Southeastern University (22-5) on Friday evening at 7 P.M. in Lakeland, Fla.
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.