DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Eager to rebound from a 75-54 setback against Dayton in the Daytona Beach Classic, the Stetson Hatters engaged in a hard-fought contest with the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles, ultimately falling short in a 65-59 clash at the Ocean Center on Saturday, Nov. 25.
The game kicked off with Tennessee Tech landing a three-pointer just 24 seconds in, setting the tone. Khamya McNeal swiftly responded with a remarkable fast break layup, drawing a foul after a steal. Despite Tennessee Tech's enduring 8-2 run, McNeal managed Stetson's lone basket during that stretch.
Jaelyn Talley, securing an offensive rebound, converted a pair of free throws, but Tennessee Tech extended their lead with a drive to the paint. Stetson managed to narrow the deficit to five with free throws from Talley and Jordan Peete.
McNeal continued to shine, scoring her third basket of the quarter and forcing a turnover, which Peete capitalized on. Peete closed the opening quarter with a layup, making it a 19-14 game in favor of the Golden Eagles.
The second quarter saw Tennessee Tech adding four points early, but freshman Jorah Eppley responded with her first collegiate three-pointer, assisted by Skylar Treadwell. Fellow freshman Diawna Carter-Hartley, securing an offensive rebound, narrowed the gap further with a made free throw. However, a 10-2 run by the Golden Eagles, with McNeal contributing Stetson's only points, posed a challenge.
Peete halted the run with a layup, followed by Talley's second chance layup on an and-1 opportunity. Tennessee Tech would answer with an and-1 of their own as the Hatters trailed 36-25 at the half.
Jamiya Turner, who scored a season-high 20 points in the previous game, netted her first points to begin the second half, grabbing a pair of offensive rebounds after a Tennessee Tech turnover before finally laying it in. Freshman forward Sophia Fontaine scored her first points of the game as well as Peete found her in the paint to make it a seven point contest. Turner's six straight points on three made baskets then narrowed the gap, but Tennessee Tech closed the third quarter with a 3-2 run.
In the final quarter, a three-pointer increased the deficit, but Stetson, led by two McNeal baskets, fought back. Despite an 8-0 run by the Golden Eagles, McNeal's free throws, including one from a technical foul, and contributions from Turner, Talley, and Peete kept the game within striking distance. However, the Hatters fell short as Tennessee Tech ultimately secured the win with free throws.
Statistically, McNeal led Stetson with 15 points, shooting 6 of 10 and showcasing a career-high four steals. Peete followed closely with 14 points, and Turner contributed 12 points and led with six rebounds, four of which were offensive.
As a team, the Hatters shot 22 of 50 from the floor (44 percent) and hit two of their 11 attempts from beyond the arc. Stetson outrebounded the Golden Eagles 28-27, despite the loss, as they also outscored them in the paint, 40-24. They forced Tennessee Tech into 16 turnovers which led to 17 points on the other end. Their 12 offensive rebounds led to 15 second chance points.
Now standing at 1-6, Stetson looks to rebound on Thursday, Nov. 30, at 7:00 PM at the historic Edmunds Center for Community Day against Webber International.
About Stetson University Athletics: Stetson University's Athletics Program is driven by a shared purpose. It is what inspires, motivates and binds us together. More than a task, a reason for being. THE HATTER PURPOSE is to create and provide an experience of a lifetime through teamwork and relationships to achieve excellence. This purpose is achieved through five Core Values: Communication, Integrity, Excellence, Value People and Commitment. To learn more about the HATS program and our Core Values, visit GoHatters.com/HATS.
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