MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – The Thomas University women's basketball team fell tonight on the road to the Sun Conference tournament's top seed St. Thomas (26-4) 66-56 in the semifinals of the Sun Conference Women's Basketball Championship presented by Don Shula's Hotel and Golf Club.

First-Team All-Conference selection and TSC Newcomer of the Year Courtney Saunds was Thomas' only player in double figures on the evening.  She led the Lady Night Hawks with a game-high 31 points. This was her fourth 30 plus point performance this season.  Bria Joyner-Williams led all players with 12 rebounds.

The first half of play was a testing battle for both teams.  St. Thomas took an early lead, but never held a significant edge over the visiting Lady Night Hawks.  The game featured 11 lead changes and 10 ties.  Heading into the break, Thomas held close to the No. 23 Lady Bobcats trailing by two, 28-26.
 
In the opening minutes of the second frame, STU would take a 35-30 lead.  The Hunter Green and White started connecting on each trip down the offensive floor.  They took their first lead of the game with 14:39 remaining on a layup by Kerregan Poe-Cochran.  The Lady Night Hawks would cap off their 8-0 run (38-35) with a fast break lay in by Saunds before STU stopped the run with a jumper by Dannisha Pierce.  TU held their lone lead of the game for four minutes and four seconds before St. Thomas tied the game, regained the lead, and never looked back.  This was the most important lead shift in the game as it propelled the Lady Bobcats' drive over the next 10 minutes of play. 
 
Down the stretch, St. Thomas would build an 11 point lead at its height to fuel their 66-56 victory over the upset-minded Lady Night Hawks.
 
"I'm proud of the fight these young women showed to end of their season," stated head coach Coretta Brown.  "That's a characteristic that will last long after their playing careers have ended."
 
With tonight's win, St. Thomas moves on to face third-seeded Webber International in Saturday's championship game.  Thomas ends the 2014-2015 with a 12-17, 8-10 TSC, record.
 
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.