TIFTON, Ga. - The Thomas University Night Hawk women's basketball program opened Saturday's match against Paine College with a stumble, allowing the Lions to score the first eight points of the game. Thomas would rally, outscoring Paine in the third quarter, but a 23-point Lion fourth sent Paine on top to the tune of a 73-59 final.
Ameari Logan put Thomas on the board halfway through the first quarter before connecting with
Elicia Smith a few minutes later. A
Jayla Holden three-pointer made it a 17-7 Paine lead at the 2:46 mark before
Jada Rawls knocked down a deep shot of her own. Holden added one more bucket and Logan tacked on a free throw to give TU 13 points through the first ten minutes.
Holden took over in the second quarter, making a layup at the 7:12 mark before coming away with a steal, another basket, drawing a foul, and connecting on the and-one attempt to rally Thomas to a 22-20 deficit.
Skylar Patten and
Keiane' Rollins padded the Night Hawks' scoring with baskets before Holden laced home a three-pointer to give Thomas a 27-24 lead with 4:29 before the half. Paine would close the quarter on a 12-2 run to enter the intermission with a 36-29 lead.Â
Janitra Brown and
Trista Bennett both scored close buckets to open the second half. Rawls tacked on a long two-pointer with 6:41 to go in the period to make it a 48-35 contest before
Emma Brooke Reiser sunk a three to make it a ten-point game.
Zyi'Kiera King and
Kyla Raven both found scores in the paint, while Logan added another and a free throw to bring Thomas within five, a 50-45 Paine lead entering the fourth quarter.
The Lions' lead swelled back to a dozen before Logan connected with a layup with just over eight minutes to go. She'd add three more points on another successful Night Hawk and-one to keep it close. Smith and Bennett both chipped in buckets down the stretch run inside the paint, but the Lions made 13 of 22 fourth-quarter free throws to maintain the lead and secure the 73-59 final.Â
Thomas (1-1) was led by Holden's 17 points, while Logan tallied 11 on the afternoon. Rollins had the most Night Hawk rebounds with eight, while Smith's three assists were a team-best. Brown recorded a pair of blocks on the defensive end, pairing with Holden's three steals.
The Night Hawks will take part in the 1st Annual Warner Sunny Southern Classic on Oct. 30 and 31st, against the host Warner University Royals and the New College of Florida Mighty Banyans. Friday's contest against the Royals takes place at 5:30 p.m. inside the Turner Athletic Center, with Halloween's game against NCF set for 4:00 p.m.
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