THOMASVILLE, Ga. – The Thomas University women's basketball team entered the 2015-16 season this afternoon falling in a tough defensive battle to Reinhardt University 63-59. 
 
The first quarter got off to a slow start for both squads as the score set 2-2 four minutes into the contest.  Reinhardt, behind the 14 point performance by Bria White and 13 points by Danielle Pray, began to pull away with a 9-0 run in the closing minutes to end the quarter leading the Lady Night Hawks 20-8.
 
Head coach Coretta Brown regrouped her squad with a passionately motivated huddle in between quarters that sparked the Lady Night Hawks to going a scoring tear to open the second quarter.  Thomas would cap off a 12-0 run to tie the game at 20-20 when senior transfer Bra'Shey Ali powered through two Lady Eagle defenders to bring down one of her 15 rebounds (nine offensive) and laid a put back in the hoop.
 
Thomas would temporarily take its first lead of the game at 24-23 with 4:34 remaining in the half before Reinhardt regained the 27-24 advantage to head into the intermission.
 
While the Lady Night Hawks led on and off for the first few minutes of the third quarter, it was Reinhardt's shooting accuracy that stole the period.  The Lady Eagles would close the third on an 8-0 run to go up 53-40 on Thomas.
 
Reinhardt's lead at its height would stretch to 17, 57-40, in the early minutes of the fourth.  Thomas, down but not out, slowly chipped into the Lady Eagles' lead.  Ali and fellow senior Laura Cherranfant combined for three key positions to go on a 7-0 run putting the game at 57-47 in favor of Reinhardt.
 
While the Lady Night Hawks would pull within three, 61-58, with 55 ticks left on the clock, it was time that would ultimately doom Thomas in their 63-59 loss.
 
"I'm pleased with the fight we showed today," stated head coach Coretta Brown. "Fighting back from 17 points down says a lot about our will.  We just have to do a better job of not putting ourselves in that position.  We have to shoot better than 28% from the field if we're going to win."

The Lady Night Hawks return to action on Wednesday, Nov. 4 as they travel to Cochran, Ga., to face Middle Georgia State University.  Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m.
 
By the Numbers:
3 – Night Hawks in double figures in scoring
4 – Days until Thomas faces Middle Georgia State
13 – Points scored by scoring leader Dymon Brown
15 – Game high total of rebounds by Bria Joyner-Williams & Bra'shey Ali
16 – Turnovers by Reinhardt
50 – Total rebounds by the Night Hawks
59 – Points scored by Thomas
 
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.