MIAMI, Fla. – Even after Weber State scored five points in the final 10 seconds of regulation to force overtime, Stetson senior Breana Bey was not the least bit nervous going into the extra period.
"I was excited when we went to overtime, because it is a chance for us to show coach what we are made of," Bey said. "I know (my teammates) have my back and I have theirs."
In the overtime, Brianti Saunders converted a three-point play and Bey delivered the decisive bucket as Stetson won the 2016 FIU Thanksgiving Tournament championship with a 70-68 victory over Weber State Sunday afternoon at the FIU Arena.
Coupled with Friday's 66-60 win over Robert Morris, the Hatters won the four-team tournament and improved to 6-1 on the season. It is Stetson's best seven-game start since 2000.
"We have a long ways to go, but I am proud of our players because we these last two teams we have played are very good," Stetson head coach Lynn Bria said. "They both have a chance to win their conference. I think it is good for us to play teams of their caliber because we see where we are."
Bey finished with a career-high 23 points Sunday, while Saunders and Brittney Chambers scored 14 points apiece. Myka Johnson-Matthews scored 12 points in 43 minutes of action.
Saunders was named tournament MVP after scoring 35 points in the two games. Bey was also named to the all-tournament team.
In a seesaw affair that featured 10 lead changes, including two in the fourth quarter and two more in overtime, Stetson trailed 56-55 with 4:35 to go in the fourth quarter. The Hatters quickly regained a five-point lead, but the Wildcats tied it on 3-pointer by Yarden Danan with 10 seconds to play.
Chambers hit a potential game-winning baseline jumper with 2.9 seconds on the clock, but Deeshyra Thomas answered again for Weber State at the buzzer to send the game to overtime.
The extra period started without Sarah Sagerer (fouled out) and Saunders (injured) on the floor, but Stetson got some key minutes off the bench from Johanna McMillan, McKenna Beach and Kennedi Colclough.
"We had a group in there that really hasn't played a lot together," Bria said. "I was really proud of them for finishing the game like they did."
Saunders would eventually return and converted a crucial three-point play with 1:50 to go, giving Stetson a 68-67 lead. Bey's drive and lay-up with 48 seconds left put Stetson ahead by three. Weber State cut it to two, then had a last-second 3-point attempt bounce off the rim twice before falling wide of the mark.
"It is good to have different people step up every game," Bria said. "To our kids credit, they found a way to win, and I am proud of them for that. We just have to continue to get better, especially down the stretch."
Stetson is currently 2-1 on its six-game road swing. Next, the Hatters will visit former ASUN foe Northern Kentucky at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday.
Notes: Both teams rallied from double digit deficits. Stetson trailed 14-4 early and Weber State trailed 51-39 in the third quarter … Brianti Saunders moved past Michele Michael into second-place on Stetson's all-time scoring list. With 1571 points, she now trails all-time leader Sasha Sims by just 46 points … Sarah Sagerer recorded career blocks No. 98 and 99 … Stetson's last overtime game came last year vs. Georgia State (lost 80-72). Stetson's last overtime win came Jan. 7, 2012 vs. Jacksonville … The Hatters are 6-1 for the third time in school history … Brittney Chambers hit Stetson's only 3-pointer, extending the team's streak to 209 consecutive games with a 3.
