Box Score
 
MIAMI, Fla. – A dominate second half offensive effort by the Lady Night Hawks coupled with missed free-throws by Johnson & Wales in the final seconds of the contest propelled Thomas University's women's basketball team to the 69-68 victory over their Sun Conference foe tonight on the road.
 
The Lady Wildcats started off strong from the opening tip with a 15-4 run for the early 11 point lead.  JWU continued their accurate shooting and avoided defensive press by the Lady Night Hawks to increase their lead to 36-27 heading into the intermission.
                                                                                                                          
Determined for a comeback, the Lady Night Hawks sprung into an immediate offensive force in the opening minutes of the second half and continued to fight their way back to take their first lead since the early minutes of the first half.  With 12:39 remaining in the contest, senior guard Courtney Saunds gave the Lady Night Hawks the 48-47 lead sinking two of her nine made free throws on the evening.
 
While the Lady Night Hawks built a nine point lead at its height with 4:14 remaining in the contest at 66-57, the Lady Wildcats did not bow out.  JWU fought back forcing three consecutive TU turnovers and tied the ball game at 68 with just under a minute remaining in regulation.  The Lady Wildcats fouled in the final seconds of the game sending Laura Cherranfant to the line.  Cherranfant, who missed the front end of her two free throws, found redemption sinking her second shot from the charity stripe providing what would become the eventual game winning shot.
 
Saunds led the Lady Night Hawks en route to picking up her second double-double performance and eighth 20 points or more contest of the season.  The 5-foot-9 guard led all scorers in the game with 23 points and brought down 11 rebounds while dishing out three assists.  Sophomore guard Shamari Josey was the only other Lady Night Hawk in double figures scoring 10 points in the winning effort. Josey shot 67 percent from behind the arch and 80 percent from the field.
 
"I thought our ladies did an outstanding job of battling tonight, especially in the second half of play," stated head coach Coretta Brown.  "We competed and gave it our all to win this one tonight on the road. I'm very pleased with our second half effort."
 
Thomas improves to 9-4, 3-1 in TSC play, on the season while the Lady Wildcats drop to 5-10, 1-4 on the year.
 
The Lady Night Hawks return to action on Saturday, Jan. 17 when they travel to Lakeland, Fla., to face Sun Conference rival Southeastern University. Tipoff is set for 2:00 p.m. from the Sportsplex.
 
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.