DeLand, Fla. – Sophomore Brianti Saunders scored a career-high 33 points and freshman Sarah Sagerer collected career-highs of 23 points and 18 rebounds as Stetson rolled to a 103-75 win over visiting Lipscomb Thursday night at the Edmunds Center.
The Hatters (17-6, 6-3 Atlantic Sun) shot 54 percent from the floor and 55 percent from 3-point range to produce a season-high total in points.
With starting center Amber Porter unavailable due to injury, Sagerer made her first career start and responded with a monster game. The 6-foot-3 Austria-native was 9-for-15 from the field, she grabbed six offensive and 12 defensive rebounds, and she collected five blocks.
"I thought Sarah stepped up in a huge way on both ends of the floor," Stetson head coach Lynn Bria said. "It gave her an opportunity to play a lot minutes and to play through some things. I was really happy for her."
Saunders, meanwhile, was 13-for-17 (.765) from the floor and 5-for-6 (.833) from behind the arc.
"I just played with confidence," Saunders said. "We were missing Amber so we knew we had to do extra work. It was a team effort. We just played together, and I got my points from my teammates."
Lipscomb (8-15, 3-6) hit 15 3-pointers in the game, including eight by Chandler Cooper, who finished with 24 points.
"I think they are one of the best 3-point shooting teams in the nation," Bria said about Lipscomb. "You have to get out and guard them."
After dropping two of the last three games, including a sluggish 39-point effort this past Saturday, the Hatters were an inspired group on Thursday. Stetson outrebounded Lipscomb 51-24, owned a 58-8 advantage in points in the paint, and scored 23 second chance points on 19 offensive rebounds.
"I am just proud of them," Bria said. "This team could have easily found a reason to fold or not to win today, or not to play hard, and they didn't do that. They took opportunities to step up.
"I thought our effort was outstanding," Bria added. "When you look at rebounding, that is a measure of effort. In the first half, we got a ton of offensive rebounds that really helped us get some points on the board. I was really pleased with our rebounding."
Jama Sharp approached a triple-double with 19 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists. Myeisha Hall added 13 points and eight rebounds.
Stetson has now won nine straight games vs. Lipscomb, including both meetings this year.
The Hatters will host Northern Kentucky at 1 p.m. Saturday.
Notes: The last Hatter to score 30 points in a game was Brianti Saunders vs. FAMU on Dec. 2, 2013 ... The last Hatter to score 33 points in a game was Victoria McGowan at Kennesaw State on Jan. 2, 2013 ... The last Hatter to record 18 rebounds in a game was Amber Porter vs. Murray State on Dec. 20, 2013 ... Stetson's previous high for points this season was 101 vs. Warner (Dec. 6) ... The Hatters hit 10 3-point field goals ... Aisha Turner made her first start as a Hatter and scored Stetson's 100th point with 48 seconds to play ... Stetson finished the game on a 16-1 run ... The Hatters are 13-0 in the past two seasons in games immediately following a loss.
