Miami Courant

St. Thomas University (STU) Women's Basketball (14-3, 5-0 SUN) welcomed the new year jumping straight into Sun Conference action. Game one of 2023 was on the road to visit the only other unbeaten team in league action, the Ave Maria University Gyrenes (12-3, 4-0 SUN). This game would be the first of an 11-game conference stretch that will run until the end of the regular season. Ave Maria took the overtime thriller 73-71 on the road in the Donahue Acaedmy gym.

The first quarter was all Gyrenes, opening with a 4-0 lead. Both teams continued to battle it out, with Ave Maria holding the advantage and taking the first quarter at 23-15. This is just the second time this season STU trailed after the first quarter, the first in league play.

The second quarter was very similar with AMU staying on top of the Bobcats. Connieya Bradford scored the first layup while Mya Moye trotted down to knock in a three-point basket to open on a 5-0 run. Brooke Bogatz hit a jumper to tie it up with 32 seconds in the first half. A pair of free throws would give AMU a two-point lead into the half.

St. Thomas started the second half on a much more focused channel, locking in for a 20-point quarter. Bradford started another period with a layup in the paint. The final two minutes was flip flop of the score having five ties. Moye hit the final jumper to give STU the momentum and lead heading into the final frame.

The shot did just that, St. Thomas had a 10-2 to gain a 10-point lead, their largest of the contest against the Gyrenes. Ave Maria would keep the Bobcats quiet for five minutes and work their way to regain the lead. St. Thomas hit a crucial shot with Bradford in the paint to tie the game. STU had chance to win it after a costly turnover from AMU but the missed layup would send the contest to overtime.

Ave Maria knocked down a three to being the overtime period and gain the advantage. On the scoreboard again. Both teams continued their back-and-forth battle. Fouls would prove to be the costly as AMU tied their program record in free throw attempts with 45, making 28 of them. This was how the Gyrenes gained the lead and hold it. St. Thomas was unable to close out the last shot of the game on two attempts.

Box Score Notables

• Connieya Bradford had a career-high outing with 17 points, adding 10-rebounds for a double-double.
• Mya Moye led the way with 24 points, the second most this season and fourth 30-point outing.
• STU had more rebounds at 53-51, with 20 offensive rebounds.

Up Next

St. Thomas will have another challenge ahead with the Southeastern University Fire heading to the Fernandez Family Center on Saturday, January 7th.

Original source can be found here.