AVE MARIA, Fla. – What started out as a promising run to a Thomas victory this afternoon turned tides in the second half as the Lady Night Hawks surrendered an eight point lead at its height to the Lady Gyrenes as Ave Maria escaped the season series sweep defeating Thomas 70-57.
 
Thomas jumped out to an early advantage and held their lead through the first half of play holding a 29-23 advantage at the break.
 
Junior Rayven Thomas put the Lady Night Hawks' advantage to eight points, 31-23, in the opening moments of the second half, but Ave Maria battled back over the next six minutes to take their first lead, 37-36, since the opening seconds of the contest.
 
The Lady Gyrenes pushed their 20-5 run over the next two minutes to gain the 43-36 lead over Thomas with 2:14 left in the third.
 
In the final quarter of play, Ave Maria would outscore the Lady Night Hawks 27-17 to put the game away for the 70-57 victory.
 
Head coach Coretta Brown's squad struggled in the second half from behind the arch shooting 1-for-8.  For the contest, the Lady Night Hawks, who usually are a 34-percent three-point shooting team, netted just three all afternoon going 16.7-percent from downtown.
 
Junior forward Taron Bright led Thomas offensively netting 15 points while bringing down five boards.  This was Bright's first game leading the Lady Night Hawks in scoring for the year.  Ave Maria's Annie Artise led all scorers dropping 24 points on the afternoon.

The Lady Night Hawks (8-9, 3-4 TSC) are back in action on Monday, Jan. 25 when they return to the TU Gymnasium and host Warner University in Sun Conference action. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
 
By the Numbers:
2 – Days until Thomas faces Warner University
2 – Lady Night Hawks in double figures in scoring
10 – Game high total of rebounds by Rayven Thomas
15 – Points scored by TU's scoring leader Taron Bright
27 – Total turnovers by Lady Night Hawks
39 – Total rebounds by the Lady Night Hawks
57 – 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.