THOMASVILLE, Ga. – The Thomas University women's basketball team dropped a stunning triple overtime thriller to the No. 23 Lady Bobcats of St. Thomas University tonight at the TU Gymnasium.  STU, who is the Sun Conference's top ranked team, pulled out the 80-78 victory to send the Lady Night Hawks to the loss on their final regular season home game of the 2014-2015 season.
 
The Lady Night Hawks charged out to the 8-2 lead in the early minutes of the game before St. Thomas responded with a 15-1 run to take the 17-9 lead with 9:39 remaining until the break.  The Lady Bobcats would slowly increase their lead over the next seven minutes to reach a first half height of 17, 32-15, with just under two minutes remaining in the opening frame.  Thomas cut the lead down stretch to head into the intermission down 34-21.
 
When the second half started, a change in the Lady Night Hawks' demeanor was immediately present.  A renewed sense of pride and fight was implemented from the start and continued through the half.  Thomas started the second half off on a 7-2 run to cut STU's lead to 36-31.  TU would continue to chip away at the Lady Bobcats' lead until the 45 seconds remained in regulation.  The score was set at 60-56. 
 
Thomas seized the opportunity.  Senior Courtney Saunds brought the game within one position with a fast break layup with 15 seconds remaining.  Immediately, the Lady Night Hawks fouled sending STU's Jamesha Willis to the line.  Willis missed the front end of the one-and-one.  Junior Bria Joyner-Williams scooped up the loose ball and passed it forward to Saunds down court who was immediately fouled by the Lady Bobcats. 
 
Saunds paused, took a breath, and sank both free throws sending the contest into overtime.
 
During the first overtime period, both teams executed on the defensive end of the floor forcing outside jumpers and pressured misses in the paint.  Five minutes later, the teams still set gridlocked at 67-67.  The second overtime period reflected much of the first overtime period minus the addition of fouls and free throws by both sides.  Once again, the teams set tied at 76-76. 
 
The third and final overtime was more of a tactical battle that came down to clock management and converting on the select attempts that each team threw up.  St. Thomas took an 80-76 lead in the winding minutes of the game.  Senior Jessica Anderson sank two critical free throws for the Lady Night Hawks to bring the game to its eventually ending score 80-78.  Over the final two minute of the game, neither side converted a field goal.  The Lady Night Hawks fouled Willis with just 1.4 remaining on the clock hoping for one last chance at an upset victory.
 
Willis stepped to the line and missed both free throws forcing senior Ivory Smith to throw up a last second heave across the gym that landed short of the goal.
 
The Lady Bobcats held on to defeat Thomas 80-78 in an amped environment.

"I'm not satisfied with the loss, but very proud of the effort and fight displayed tonight in front of a great crowd," stated head coach Coretta Brown.  "We'll use this hurt as motivation for Saturday and next week."
 
Saunds led all scorers for the evening netting a season high 31 points in the losing effort.  The Lady Night Hawks had two players with double-double performances.  Junior Laura Cherranfant scored 13 points and brought down 14 rebounds while Anderson contributed 14 points and brought down 10 boards.  St. Thomas was led by Dannisha Pierce who contributed 24 points, six steals, five assists, and six rebounds on the night.

Thomas drops to 10-16, 7-10 TSC, while the Lady Bobcats improve to 23-4, 16-1 on the year.
 
The Lady Night Hawks return to action on Saturday, Feb. 21 when they travel to West Palm Beach, Fla., to face off with Sun Conference rival Northwood University in the final regular season game of the year.  Tipoff is set for 1:00 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.