DeLand, Fla. - Freshman forward Cherisse Burris (Blue Springs, Mo.) and junior guard Shanasa Sanders (Jacksonville, Fla.) scored 13 points each in their first games as Hatters to lead the Stetson women's basketball team (1-0) to a 63-52 win over visiting Palm Beach Atlantic (0-1) Friday evening at the Edmunds Center in the season opener for both squads. The Hatters have won five straight at home dating back to last season.
PBA out-shot Stetson .333 to .310 and out-rebounded the Hatters 44-39 on the game, but Stetson took advantage of a 22-8 turnover margin to pull away from the Sailfish in the second half.
Stetson trailed 16-12 midway through the first half when a three-pointer by junior guard Ashley Dennis (Bexley, Ohio) at the 9:33 mark triggered a 20-4 run over the remainder of the first period. Burris had eight points at intermission.
The Hatters continued to exert pressure on the visitors to start the second half, scoring the first five points to open up a 39-20 lead that would not be seriously threatened the rest of the way. PBA came as close as 14 with 10:33 remaining in the game but Stetson again stepped on the gas pedal at that point, scoring 10 unanswered points over the next five minutes for a 24-point cushion.
The Sailfish battled hard to the end and actually finished the game from there on a 17-4 run to cut its final deficit to 11, but the outcome was not truly in doubt. A layup by sophomore forward Sasha Sims (Fayetteville, Ga.) restored the lead to 11 inside the final minute.
Sims had 12 points and six rebounds to join Burris and Sanders in double figures with junior guard Victoria McGowan (Inkster, Mich.) filling up the stat sheet to the tune of eight points, nine rebounds and six assists with three steals.
Ashley Dolberry led Palm Beach Atlantic with a 17-point, 11-rebound double-double. Selethia Jackson pulled down a game-high 12 rebounds and Lynsey Poole added four assists for the Sailfish.
The Hatters play their next four games away from home, starting Monday, November 14 at SEC powerhouse Florida. Tip-off at the O'Connell Center in Gainesville, Fla. is set for 7:00 pm; Live Stats links and Bill Topping's Hatter Vision audiocast are available at GoHatters.com.
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