CLEVELAND, Ga. (Nov. 5, 2020) – The Truett McConnell University women's basketball defeated Keiser University (66-63) in their home opener inside the Benjamin F. Brady Arena on Thursday evening. The Lady Bears improved to 2-0 on the season, while the Seahawks fell to 0-2.
PLAY BY PLAY
The Seahawks opened up the game on a 7-0 scoring run, which proved to be the difference in the first quarter. Keiser held a 7-point lead heading into the second quarter (15-8), but a Brenna Tate 3-pointer sparked a strong rally by the Lady Bears. Another 3-pointer, by Camilla Howell, gave the Lady Bears their first lead of the game (21-20), but it was Re'Tavia Floyd's 3-pointer that gave TMU their largest lead of the first half (31-22). The Seahawks fought to tie it back up with 39 seconds to go before halftime (32-32), but it was TMU who outscored just enough in the second quarter (26-17) to possess a two-point lead at halftime (34-32).
The score was tied three times throughout the third quarter but once again, the Lady Bears outscored the Seahawks by two to claim a four-point lead heading into the fourth (50-46). The final 10 minutes of regulation saw a tied game three more times and TMU with a lead as big as five (53-48). Keiser, however, managed to get back in the lead by two (61-63) with 1:57 to go, but two Floyd free throws and a Floyd bucket in the paint put the Lady Bears in winning position with nine seconds on the clock (65-63). Though Keiser battled, a Tate free throw backed up by stellar defense ultimately allowed the Lady Bears to clinch their second win of the season (66-63).
COACH'S COMMENTS
"Feels good to open up at home and get a win," Head Coach Tiek Fields said. "I thought we battled against a very big Keiser team. We will definitely learn from this and we will continue to get better. Really happy we're shooting the ball well to start off; I hope it continues."
BY THE NUMBERS
Although Keiser outscored the Lady Bears in the paint (28-16), TMU shot 42.9% from the 3-point arc. TMU also outrebounded the Seahawks by four (38-34). Both teams accounted for 12 free throws.
Floyd led the Lady Bears with 26 points, including 6-for-8 from the 3-point line and 4-for-4 from the free throw line. Tate followed with 13 points, including 4-for-8 from the 3-point line. Howell contributed eight points and junior Quan Holton led with eight rebounds and six assists.
Though foul trouble only allowed Sierra Kendall 13 minutes of play, the senior managed to score her 1,000th career point with eight points on the night. Kendall also had six rebounds.
UP NEXT
TMU will travel to Bluefield College on Saturday, Nov. 7, for their Appalachian Athletic Conference season opener at 3:00 p.m. The Lady Bears will return home on Tuesday, Nov. 10, to host Johnson University at 5:00 p.m.
