THOMASVILLE, Ga. - Thomas resumes Sun Conference (TSC) play Thursday against Florida Memorial, the first of three-straight league games inside TU Gymnasium. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m. ET.
In addition to live stats, the match will be televised online through Night Hawks Television. Updates will also be available on Thomas' official women's basketball Twitter account (@NightHawksWBKB).
Thursday's game is sponsored by 1st Franklin Financial. With 308 loan offices in six states, 1st Franklin Financial continues to provide personal loans, supplying its customers with the cash they need.
Prior to the game, Thomas fans ages 16 or older can pick up a free raffle ticket for a 3-point shootout, sponsored by the Thomas Student Life and Campus Activities Board, to be held at halftime. At the start of halftime, two names will be drawn on the court and announced to determine the participants. The winner of the contest will receive a $30 gift card to Barberitos, while the runner-up will receive a $15 gift card to Barberitos.
Game 5/Florida Memorial (4-4, 0-1 TSC) at Thomas (3-1, 1-1 TSC)
Thursday, Nov. 30 • 5:30 p.m. ET
Thomasville, Ga. • TU Gymnasium
TV:Â Night Hawks Television
Live Stats:Â TUNightHawks.com
Twitter Updates:Â @NightHawksWBKB
Series History:Â Tied 4-4 (Thomas won last game)
Record at Thomas:Â 2-2
Record at Florida Memorial:Â 2-2
Record at Neutral Site:Â 0-0
Coach Myron Brown vs. Florida Memorial: 1-0
ABOUT THOMAS
The Night Hawks are coming off a 79-51 exhibition loss at Georgia Southern, a NCAA Division I member, on Monday.
Kriza Allen registered a game-high 15 points for Thomas.
Thomas led 15-14 at the end of the first quarter after trailing by seven 3:57 into the game. The Night Hawks went inside for three-straight buckets beforeÂ
Dymon Brown canned a 3 at the 2:59 mark to tie the game at 10, as she scored the final 10 Thomas points in the period.
An Allen jumper 54 seconds into the second quarter opened up a three-point edge, 17-14. After Georgia Southern tied the contest at 17 on a Jakayvea Akins jumper, three lead changes ensued before the Eagles put together a 14-0 run in a 3:11 span to seize control and lead 36-26 at halftime.
Thomas closed within seven, 48-41, after anÂ
Alexis Moody free throw at the 3:22 mark of the third quarter but trailed by double digits for much of the second half and by as many as 28 twice in the fourth quarter.
Allen shot 6-of-12 overall and added six rebounds and five steals. Brown contributed 13 points on 5-of-10 shooting, including 3-of-5 from deep.Â
De'Audra Copeland had nine points and five boards.Â
Arianna Anderson recorded seven points. Anderson and Moody each pulled down seven boards, with Moody claiming five on the offensive glass.
The Night Hawks shot 33.9 percent (19-of-56) overall.
ABOUT FLORIDA MEMORIAL
The Lions are coming off a 71-56 loss at home to No. 1 Marian (Ind.) on Nov. 25.
Abreona Cabell led Florida Memorial with 19 points to go along with seven rebounds. Ashley Henry had a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds.
The Lions shot 37.5 percent from the floor, 5-of-11 from deep and 9-of-14 from the line. Florida Memorial committed 18 turnovers.
Florida Memorial ranks third in NAIA Division II in blocks per game (5.5), 12th in scoring defense (56.5), 15th in offensive rebounds per game (15.8) and 17th in field goal percentage (0.346).
Henry is second nationally in offensive rebounds per game (5.3) and 18th in rebounds per game (9.6). Mya Jackson ranks eighth in blocks per game (2.1).
LAST TIME OUT AGAINST THE LIONS
Thomas defeated Florida Memorial, 63-61, on Feb. 4, 2017, inside TU Gymnasium.
Thomas' J'Nyiah Daniels led all scorers with 18 points, while three players added nine points each. Moody pulled in a team-best seven rebounds.
The Night Hawks went on an 8-0 run in the first quarter, but Florida Memorial led 20-19 at the end of 10 minutes.
Thomas went on an 11-0 run in the second quarter assumed a 30-23 lead, but Florida Memorial later responded with an 8-0 run to cut the Night Hawks' lead to 36-34 at halftime.
Thomas opened the second half on a 9-2 run and pushed out to a 45-36 lead. Florida Memorial responded with a 9-0 run and tied the game at 45. The Lions held a 47-46 lead going into the final quarter.
Moody gave the Night Hawks a 51-49 lead early in the fourth quarter, and the Lions did not hold an upper hand the last eight and a half minutes of the game. Cabell tied the game at 54 with four and half minutes to play, but the Night Hawks then went on a 7-2 run and took a 61-56 lead. Daniels made two free throws to seal the game.
TIP-INS
- Thursday's contest is the first of three-straight inside TU Gymnasium.
- The Night Hawks have won three of their last four home games.
- Thomas ranks seventh in NAIA Division II in steals per game (14.5), eighth in offensive rebounds per game (17.8), 18th in rebounds per game (44.0), 30th in 3-point field goal percentage defense (0.277), 32nd in scoring defense per game (62.5), 37th in turnover margin (2.5), 43rd in rebound margin (4.0) and 46th in scoring margin (6.0).
- Copeland is second in NAIA Division II in offensive rebounds per game (5.3). Brown and Allen are tied for 33rd in steals per game (2.8). Allen is 37th in offensive rebounds per game (3.3).
- Allen has scored in double figures in six of the last seven games.
- Gilbert has scored 12 points in each of the last two games.
- Thomas faces three ranked opponents - No. 3 Southeastern (Fla.), No. 23 Indiana Wesleyan and No. 24 Lawrence Tech (Mich.) - and one that is receiving votes - Ave Maria (Fla.) - in the latest 2017-18 NAIA Division II Women's Basketball Coaches' Top 25.
