DeLand, Fla. -- If Jama Sharp's opening night performance is any indication of how her senior season is going to go, look out.
Sharp was a perfect 10-for-10 from the field including 6-for-6 from three-point range, breaking school-records in both categories and finishing with a career-high 26 points, in Stetson's season-opening 91-61 win over Bethune-Cookman Friday night at the Edmunds Center.
"It felt nice," Sharp said when asked about her perfect night. "My teammates were the ones who got me the shots. They were driving, being aggressive, and kicking it out when my defender dropped off. It was a really good feeling."
Sharp hit her first three-point attempt less than two minutes into the game and took off from there. She had 12 points at halftime, all coming from behind the arc. In the second half, Sharp scored 14 points on 6-of-6 shooting, hitting the record-breaking 10th consecutive field goal and sixth three-pointer with under 20 seconds to play. She also recorded six assists.
"Jama had a complete game," head coach Lynn Bria said. "She took good shots. They were wide open, and she did a great job of knocking them down. For her senior year and her first game, she did awesome. It was one of the best games I have seen her play."
Amber Porter added 23 points on 9-of-11 shooting, picking up her 500th career point late in the first half. She added 13 rebounds and four blocks.
Stetson led by just five, 42-37, at halftime, but a 13-0 run to open the second half helped put the game away. Sharp, Porter, and Myeisha Hall hit consecutive three-pointers during the run.
"(Bethune-Cookman) came out and jumped on us," Bria said. "They really bothered us in the first half. They came out very aggressive and we were back on our heels a little bit. In the second half we came out being the aggressor. Defensively we did a much job our guarding them. We didn't turn the ball over which didn't give them easy run outs."
The Hatters hit 12 three-pointers on the night, coming within two of the school-record. Hall finished with 15 points, while Sarah Sagerer tallied nine points and nine rebounds in her Hatter debut.
Stetson will visit UCF at 7 p.m. Wednesday. The Hatters will be seeking their first 2-0 start since 2000.
Notes: Stetson's previous record-holder for best single-game field goal pct. was Michele Michael, 9-for-9 vs. Mercer on Jan. 23, 1989 ... Stetson's previous record-holders for best single-game three-point field goal pct. were Sasha Sims and Tierra Brown, each 5-for-5 from behind the arc ... The Hatters have won 19 straight non-conference home games.
