THOMASVILLE, GA — The Thomas University women's basketball team is geared-up and ready to travel to compete in the annual Faulkner Classic in Montgomery, Alabama over the weekend.
The Night Hawks (0-1) will look look to rebound at the Classic, after a disappointing showing last outing in an exhibition match against Embry-Riddle saw TU fall to the Eagles 29-86. In that matchup, TU struggled from the field, knocking down a mere 20% of their two-point attempts, while also underperforming from long range hitting less than 15% from downtown.
TU vs. Life @ Faulkner (11/5)
The Night Hawks open Classic play against Life (1-1) facing an Eagles team fresh off a 68-70 last-second loss to Brewton-Parker College on Halloween Eve. The Running Eagles are led by newcomers Lenise Santiago and Eva Caroline Singleton, as the two transfer Juniors have combined for an average of nearly 34 points per game early on in the season. Life University will present a unique challenge for TU as the roster for the Running Eagles will feature a diverse set of Veteran experience, as seven of the 16 players listed have collegiate experience prior to joining the Running Eagles roster.
Rebounding is something TU will also need to improve upon, as the Running Eagles have averaged 37 boards per game compared to the 28 the Night Hawks have averaged in their first two contests this season.
The Running Eagles are directed by Anna Kowalska who took the helm of Life University's women's basketball program in the Summer of 2021. Kowalska joins the Running Eagles after a seven year stint at WVU Tech where the impressive Coach led the team to a 61-26 overall record as Head Coach in three seasons. Kowalska also helped the program earn its highest ranking in the NAIA D2 Coaches' Top 25 Poll in 2019-20 season where she led the Running Eagles to a No.23 ranking in the final Coaches Poll of that season.
Friday's contest will provide Thomas an opportunity to double their all-time record against Life, as the Night Hawks hold a 1-0 historical record against the Eagles dating back to December of 2017.
Tipoff at Tine W. Davis Gymnasium is set for 2 p.m. Fans can follow this contest by accessing the links below:
Watch Live
Live Stats (XML)
TU vs. Faulkner (11/6)
The Night Hawks will look for revenge against Faulkner after the Eagles bested TU 74-50 in the teams last outing in February of 2021.
Faulkner (1-1) enters the weekend coming off a 83-60 win over Pensacola Christian College Tuesday. In that contest, the Eagles had three players score 12 points or more, with Freshman Josie Edwards making the most of her limited minutes scoring 16 points in 11 minutes. Redshirt Senior Ashlyn Adkins picked up right where she left off last year, as the guard registered a double-double leading all scorers and rebounders with 10 boards and 19 points. The Super Senior averaged 17.1 points per game a year ago winning the SSAC Player of the Year en route to breaking two program records for Faulkner University.
The Eagles roster will also be loaded with familiar names alongside Ashlyn Adkins, as fifth-year Senior Channing Gafford also returns alongside Adkins with a quartet of players who enter their fourth season in the program.
The Eagles are coached by Reed Sutton who is in his 11th season as head coach dating back to 2010.
Tipoff at Tine W. Davis Gymnasium is set for 5 p.m. Fans can follow along with this contest by accessing the links below:
Watch Live
Live Stats (XML)
For up-to-date information on TU Athletics, visit http://www.TUNightHawks.com. Stay up-to-date with news, scores, photos, game summaries, play-by-play, and feature stories of TU women's basketball follow them via Twitter at @NightHawksWBKB.
