Jim Hogue Photos

Box Score

SIUE SIUE 3-8

Stetson STET 11-2

SIUE SIUE

3-8

Final

Dec. 19, 2016

Stetson STET

11-2

Score By Periods
Team	1	2	3	4	F
SIUE SIUE	18	17	13	20	68
Stetson STET	19	20	24	15	78

Game Recap: Women's Basketball | December 19, 2016 | Athletic Communications

Hatters Hold Off SIUE 78-68 in Hatter Classic Opener

DeLand, Fla. -- Brianti Saunders hit three 3-pointers and scored a team-high 23 points as Stetson opened the Hatter Classic with a 78-68 win over SIUE Monday afternoon at the Edmunds Center.

Four other Hatters scored in double figures as Stetson improved to 11-2 overall and 7-0 at home this season.

Leading by four at halftime, the Hatters outscored the Cougars 24-13 in the third quarter to help break the game open.

"I thought we separated right there in the third quarter, but we didn't sustain it though," Stetson head coach Lynn Bria said. "They came back in the fourth quarter and started getting the ball inside a little bit more, and we started fouling. They got much more aggressive."

Stetson was able to maintain its lead in part due to another strong effort from the free throw line. Entering the game with the nation's second-best free throw percentage (.811), Stetson hit 18-of-20 from the line including a 10-for-10 performance from sophomore McKenna Beach.

"We have shot free throws well for most of the year, and hopefully we can continue to do that," Bria said. "The key is you have to get fouled. You have to stay aggressive offensively."

Sarah Sagerer registered 15 points, eight rebounds and three blocks. Brittney Chambers had 13 points, Breana Bey scored 12 points, and Beach added 10.

Donshel Beck led SIUE (3-8) with 27 points.

The Hatters outshot the Cougars 47 percent to 40 percent. SIUE had a slight 34-33 edge on the boards.

In the second game of the day, Tennessee State defeated Bethune-Cookman 69-60. Stetson will host Tennessee State at 1 p.m. Tuesday for the Hatter Classic championship. Bethune-Cookman will face SIUE at 3 p.m. in the consolation game.

Notes:
Brianti Saunders topped the 20-point mark for the 26th time in her career (sixth time this season) ... Saunders extended her free throw streak to 13 in a row ... McKenna Beach became the 10th Hatters all-time to go 10-for-10 or bett6er from the free throw line, and the first since Saunders went 11-for-11 at Lipscomb on January 25 ... The Hatters are now shooting 81.9 percent from the line as a team, second only to Iowa State's mark of .836 ... DeAsia Beal returned to action after missing seven games with an injury ... Stetson has won 63 straight games when scoring 74 points or more ... The Hatters are tied with the 2000-01 team for the best start in school history (11-2).

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