MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – The Louisiana State University of Alexandria women's basketball team fell to St. Thomas University, 57-52, in a non-conference game.
"We knew it was going to be a fight," LSUA Head Coach Billy Perkins said. "St. Thomas was a well-coached team and very quick but we could not get a shot to fall. I'm very proud of the effort tonight."
Jewel Jones led the Generals (2-1) with 13 points.
Dannah Martin-Hartwick (11) and
Blair Smith (10) also finished in double digits.
Reese Stephens came off the bench for LSUA and recorded seven points while shooting 50 percent from the floor. The Generals recorded 11 second chance points, 18 points in the paint, and 21 points off turnovers.
Amani Gray led LSUA with 12 rebounds.
Benedetta Peracchi and Jones each hauled in six boards. The Bobcats (2-0) out rebounded the Generals 51-38.
After the Generals led for most of the first five minutes of play, the Bobcats took an 11-10 lead with 2:53 to play and never looked back. St. Thomas was on a 7-0 run to close the first quarter, but Stephens hit a fastbreak bucket as time expired to close the opening stanza 16-12 in favor of St. Thomas.
A three and a layup from Jones brought the score to 17-17 with 6:39 left in the second quarter.
The Bobcats took the lead and worked it to 16, 43-27 with 4:13 on the clock in the third quarter.
LSUA cut the deficit to four in the final four minutes of the third. The run started with a trio of free throws from Jones.
Traeshira Harry added a bucket in the paint, before Martin-Hartwick knocked down a three. Stephens then notched a layup, prior to a pair of free throws from Martin-Hartwick brought the score to 43-39 on the 12-0 LSUA run.
A free throw and a three from Jones in the first two minutes of the final stanza cut the deficit to two, 45-43. The Bobcats managed to hold on, keeping the Generals just out of reach for the remainder of the contest.
LSUA is back in action on Saturday, November 9. They take on Ave Maria University in Ave Maria, Fla. Tip-off is scheduled for 12:30 PM ET (11:30 AM CT).