DeLand, Fla. – Sophomore Brianti Saunders scored a game-high 22 points to help lift Stetson to its first Atlantic Sun Conference victory of the season, 73-47 over visiting Jacksonville Wednesday night at the Edmunds Center.
Jama Sharp added 14 points and five steals as the Hatters (12-4, 1-1 A-Sun) remained a perfect 7-0 at home this season.
“It was a good win for us,” Stetson head coach Lynn Bria said. “I thought our response was great considering we had a tough game (Saturday). It was good to be back home.”
Stetson put forth another strong defensive effort, holding JU (6-9, 1-1) to just 32 percent shooting from the floor and 20 percent from behind the arc. The Dolphins scored just 19 first-half points as Stetson led by 15 at the break.
“Overall I was very pleased, especially defensively,” Bria said. “I thought our defense was very good for most of the game.”
Saunders scored 14 points during a brief four-and-a-half minute stretch in the second half where Stetson pushed a 14-point lead up to 24. She hit a pair of lay-ups and a pair of 3-pointers during that run.
“The ball went inside, it was kicked it out to her, and she was ready to shoot the ball and knock it down,” Bria said about Saunders. “That is what she has to continue to do. I just want her to be aggressive offensively and be ready to shoot.”
Myeisha Hall (12 points) and Amber Porter (11 points) also tallied double figures for the Hatters. Sarah Sagerer grabbed 11 rebounds and blocked three shots in 28 minutes of action.
“I was anxious to see how we would respond,” Bria said about her club. “They are resilient. You always just focus on the game in front of you, and we did. I am proud of them.”
Stetson will visit UNF at 2 p.m. Saturday. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN3.
Notes: Stetson has won 10 straight games vs. JU ... The Hatters are 4-0 this season and have won 11 straight games following a loss ... Stetson has now held its opponents to .342 shooting on the season ... The Hatters hit 10 consecutive field goals during one stretch in the second half ... Saunders topped 20 points for the fifth time in her career (third time this season) ... Jama Sharp extended her conference lead in steals with five, while Amber Porter added three blocks to her conference-leading total (33) ... Stetson is 23-1 in its last 24 home games.
