Skip To Main Content
Skip To Main Content

Stetson University Athletics

Scoreboard

Tickets, donate, shop

Sport schedule
University logo on load main University logo on scroll
Brianti Saunders 2016-17
Romeo Guzman
53
Stetson STET 26-7
73
Winner UCF UCF 21-11
Stetson STET
26-7
53
Final
73
UCF UCF
21-11
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Stetson STET 8 12 14 19 53
UCF UCF 8 19 29 17 73

Game Recap: Women's Basketball | | Athletic Communications

Hatters Record-Breaking Season Ends at UCF

Orlando, Fla. -- Stetson's historic 2016-17 season and the brilliant careers three seniors came to end Thursday as UCF defeated the Hatters 73-53 in the opening round of the WNIT.

Stetson (26-7) finished the season with 26 victories, the second highest single-season total in school history, won its first-ever ASUN regular season championship and rattled off a 15-game winning streak.

"It is disappointing right now, but when you go back and look at the body of work, it's hard not to be happy with what they have done," Stetson head coach Lynn Bria said.

UCF (21-11) led 27-20 at the half, but used a 29-point 3rd quarter to break the game open.

Stetson cut a 23-point deficit down to 14 in the fourth quarter but could pull no closer.

Senior Brianti Saunders completed her phenomenal career as Stetson basketball's all-time leading scorer with 1,975 points.  She also set school records for most field goals made with 652 and free throws made with 444.  Her .940 free throw percentage this season was the highest in both Stetson and ASUN history, and is currently tops among all players in the NCAA this season.

Saunders did not miss a game in her career, playing in all 131 games and making 130 starts.  She scored in all 131 games, hitting double figures 103 times, including Thursday.  She was named the league's Player of the Year for her efforts this season.

DeAsia Beal played in 112 career games, making 43 starts.  Her stellar play this season once healthy helped spark the Hatters' 15-game win streak.

Breana Bey scored 10 points Thursday, reaching double figures for the 41st time in her career.  She also did not miss a game in her two seasons, playing in 65 games and making 60 starts.  She earned two all-conference honors and a Newcomer of the Year Award.

"These three people have taken us places we have never been," Bria said.  "To win a regular season championship, we have never done that.  They have put us at the table and in the conversations.  I think that has been huge for us."

Over the past four seasons, Beal, Bey and Saunders have helped the Hatters win 96 games overall.

"They are good people. That's what I like best about them," Bria said.  "They care so much about winning and they care so much about the program.  They just care about the team.  Those are things that don't show up on a stat sheet or in a win column.  That what makes them winners."

After losing three-games in a row around New Year's, Stetson finished the season winning 15 of their final 17 games.  The Hatters set school records for highest win percentage (.788), best scoring defense (57.5) and best free throw percentage (.791).

"I said in our first 12 games we weren't very good," Bria said.  "I think it was after the FGCU game where they scored 80-some points that we were going to guard.  I think the difference was that we decided to play defense. From then on, we just came together as a team."

 
Print Friendly Version