DeLand, Fla. - Senior forward Jessica Conner (Cocoa, Fla.) and sophomore guard Victoria McGowan (Inkster, Mich.) scored 15 points each to lead the Stetson women's basketball team (1-0) to a dominating 73-37 win over visiting Saint Leo (0-1) in the season opener for both teams Saturday at the Edmunds Center. The 36-point represents the largest margin of victory for the Hatters since February 23, 1987 and a 103-46 win at Saint Leo. Stetson last won by 30 or more points on February 4, 1989 when it beat UCF 92-62 at the Edmunds Center.
The Hatters erased an early 5-0 deficit with a 10-0 run that senior guard Tierra Brown (Orlando, Fla.) punctuated with a three-pointer at the 12:49 mark of the first half; Stetson never trailed again. Swarming Hatter defense forced 17 first half turnovers and kept the lead growing as the Lions would only manage six points in the last 17 minutes of the half. Intermission arrived with the Hatters ahead 27-11.
Stetson scored the first five points of the second half to run its lead to 20 points and only got stronger from there, shooting 54.8 percent (17-31) from the field after halftime. The Hatters led by 30 or more throughout the final 11 ½ minutes and went up by 40 with 4:42 left on a McGowan three-pointer.
McGowan added four rebounds, four assists and a steal in her first game for Stetson since transferring from Bowling Green prior to last season. Conner finished with 15 points, four rebounds and three steals on seven of eight shooting in just 23 minutes. Freshman forward Sasha Sims (Fayetteville, Ga.) delivered a strong effort in her first career game, notching nine points, six rebounds, three steals, a block and an assist.
Lauren Lee and Gekeela Clemmons tied for Saint Leo's scoring high with 11 points apiece. Lee added seven rebounds and Jamarra Robinson chipped in four assists.
Stetson plays its first road game of the season at 7 p.m. Wednesday at USF. Fans can listen to Bill Topping's Hatter Vision broadcast and follow a link to Live Stats at GoHatters.com, the official online home of Stetson Athletics. Stetson's social media outlets are Stetson Athletics (Facebook), @StetsonSID (Twitter, twitter.com/stetsonsid) and StetsonHatters (YouTube).
