29th Annual Hatter Classic Tips-Off Monday

After taking a week off of competition for final exams, the Stetson women's basketball team will return to the court Monday to host the 29th Annual Hatter Classic at the Edmunds Center. Bethune-Cookman, SIUE, and Tennessee State will travel to DeLand to compete in the two-day event. The Hatters will play at 1 p.m. each day with live coverage on ESPN3 and WSBB radio.

Here is the Hatter Classic Schedule:

Monday, December 19
1 p.m. – Stetson vs. SIUE (ESPN3/WSBB)
3 p.m. – Tennessee State vs. Bethune-Cookman

Tuesday, December 20
1 p.m. – Stetson vs. Tennessee State (ESPN3/WSBB)
3 p.m. – SIUE vs. Bethune-Cookman

Stetson (10-2) is off to one of its best starts in school history, winning 10 of its first 12 games of the season. Offensively the Hatters lead the ASUN with a 74.1 points-per-game scoring average. During the team's most recent two victories, Stetson scored 100 points against Warner and 89 points against Palm Beach Atlantic.

The Hatters have also been terrific from the free throw line, as the team's .811 shooting percentage ranks second in the NCAA, trailing only Iowa State's mark of .847.

The Hatters have posted a perfect 6-0 record at the Edmunds Center this year and have outscored their opponents by nearly 29 points-per-game at home. Overall, Stetson has compiled a record of 76-9 in its past 85 home games, including a 39-3 mark against non-conference competition.

Breana Bey is one of several Hatters currently on a hot streak. The senior forward has scored 19 points in two consecutive games and is shooting .895 (17-for-19) from the floor during that stretch. She ranks second in the ASUN and 19th in the NCAA with a .598 field goal percentage on the season.

Junior forward Sarah Sagerer has been a force on both ends of the floor, but her defensive play of late has been spectacular. Sagerer raised her season blocks total to 40 with seven swats against Palm Beach Atlantic. That total currently ranks third in the nation, while her 114 rebounds ranks eighth in the country.

Monday's opponent, SIUE (3-7), is coming off a 97-78 setback at Northern Illinois Friday. Tennessee State (3-5) has won two straight games following Wednesday's 97-41 home victory over Fisk. Bethune-Cookman (3-6) defeated North Florida 52-50 on Thursday.

Tournament passes are on sale and start at $24 for general admission. Single day passes are also available and start at $14. Tickets can be purchased online through the Hatter Ticket Office webpage or at the Edmunds Center box office. For more information, visit the Tournament Central webpage.

The two Stetson games will be broadcast live by ESPN3 with Evan Weston and Dee Romine calling the action. Pete Blais will have the call on WSBB AM1230, AM1490, and online at myam1230.com. Live stats, the Stetson women's basketball twitter feed (@StetsonWBB), and the HatCheck text messaging system (presented by OSIA) will have live updates as well.

All-Time Series
Stetson will be meeting SIUE and Tennessee State for the first time.

Hatter Classic Success
Stetson is 11-1 in its last 12 Hatter Classic games, winning the title five times in the past six years. Brianti Saunders set the school single-game scoring record with a 40-point performance last year against Georgia Southern.

Field Goal Shooting
The Hatters boast the top three players in the conference when it comes to field goal shooting. Kennedi Colclough leads all players with a .627 field goal pct., Breana Bey ranks second with a .598 percentage and Myka Johnson-Matthews ranks third with a .592 percentage. As a team, the Hatters rank first in the ASUN with a .459 field goal percentage.

Transition Game
Head coach Lynn Bria says the Hatters have seen improvement in their transition offense of late. Stetson scored 19 fastbreak points against Warner, 15 fastbreak points against Palm Beach Atlantic, and 14 fastbreak points against High Point.

Up Next
Stetson will visit 19th-ranked USF on December 30 at the SunDome in Tampa, Fla.

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