Thomas University Athletics

LAKE WALES, Fla. - Ameari Logan set a new personal best in a Night Hawk uniform with 23 points, but a fourth-quarter comeback fell just short for the Thomas University women's basketball program on Halloween night against the New College of Florida Mighty Banyans. TU ultimately dropped the 59-57 contest at the Warner Sunny Southern Classic to round out October.

Keiane' Rollins scored the first two Night Hawk baskets before Logan entered the logbook with two makes of her own. Makayla Crews made a shot from deep to put TU in front with a 11-7 lead before NCF roared back to take a 14-13 lead through the first ten minutes. 

Logan knocked down two free throws and a layup to level the game at 17 in the opening minute of the second quarter. Kyla Raven connected from the paint and the stripe to keep TU in a close run before Jada Rawls knocked down another three-pointer to send it to a 27-24 NCF lead with five minutes to go before the half. The Mighty Banyans would proceed to go on a 5-0 run to enter the intermission with a 32-24 lead. 

Rollins tacked on two more baskets out of the break before Elicia Smith connected with one from beyond the arc, while the defensive side was led by a Raven block to send momentum towards TU. A Trista Bennett jumper with 5:29 to go in the third quarter gave Thomas the 35-34 lead. Logan got herself to the free throw line, making a few more from the charity stripe to keep the Night Hawks within striking distance; but the Mighty Banyans still narrowly outpaced Thomas layups and free throws of their own. 

Down five points entering the final quarter, the deficit swelled to ten with 7:18 remaining before Thomas stormed back to make it a tight contest down the stretch. Two layups from Logan kickstarted the offense before Bennett saw makes from the line and from deep. Another Logan layup at the 3:43 mark made it a 53-52 NCF lead, then a Rollins jumper in the paint sent TU in front once again. Logan netted two more free throws, but a dagger of a three-pointer from the Mighty Banyans with 0:43 remaining flipped the lead and the gameplan for Thomas. 

Forced to foul, NCF made two at the stripe before Rollins sunk one and purposefully missed the next, but a defensive rebound negated a final attempt from the Night Hawks, ending the game with a 59-57 NCF win.

Logan's 23-point performance (8-11 FG, 7-10 FT) is a Thomas-best for the senior while also pitching in four rebounds and three steals in the effort. Rollins was the only other Night Hawk in double digits with 11 points. 

Thomas (1-3) heads to Brunswick on Tuesday, Nov. 3 to take on the College of Coastal Georgia at 5:30 p.m. inside Coffin Gymnasium, trying to snap a nine-game skid against CCG. 

Stay connected with Thomas University Athletics all season long! Follow @tunighthawks on Instagram, X and like the Thomas University Athletics Facebook page.

Catch every score, highlight, announcement, and behind‑the‑scenes moment wherever you go. #GDTBANH #TalonUp

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