Box Score DeLAND, Fla. - The Stetson Hatters returned home for just the second time this season as they picked up their second win of the season with a dominant 83-37 win over the Webber International Warriors on Thursday night.
The win marked the Hatters' most points scored in a game this year and most in a game since putting up 92 on Johnson (Fla.) on Nov. 15, 2022. Six Hatters reached double-figures in scoring including freshmen
Sophia Fontaine and
Anna Kunzwiler, the latter leading the team with 14 points off the bench.
Stetson, who shot 40.7 percent as a team, held the Warriors to 23.1 percent shooting from the field and only one made three-pointer on 16 attempts.
The Hatters took an early 9-0 lead with
Jaelyn Talley contributing consecutive baskets to initiate the scoring.
Skylar Treadwell and
Jamiya Turner also added points during this stretch, before the Warriors briefly interrupted the run with a three-pointer.
Stetson extended their lead with a subsequent 10-0 run, spearheaded by
Jordan Peete, who accounted for six of those points. Notably, Peete made the Hatters' first three-point shot with an assist from
Quentarra Mitchell, who marked her debut for Stetson.
Stetson concluded the first quarter with a commanding 19-point lead, establishing a 24-5 advantage.
Khamya McNeal expanded the Hatters' lead following a block by
Promise Keshi, which led to a fast-break basket on the opposite end. Shortly after, Keshi increased the lead to 20 points by scoring in the paint on another fast break after securing a steal. With a score of 30-11, she then added two more points to the board with successful free throws following another forced turnover.
Treadwell executed the and-1 play with a resilient finish in the paint, assisted by Kunzwiler, who stole the ball. Kunzwiler, making her Stetson debut, then buried her first career three-pointer to push the lead to 25., expanding the lead to 25.
In a quarter featuring contributions from seven different scorers, including three points from freshman
Diawna Carter-Hartley, the Hatters entered halftime with a commanding 45-18 lead. The half concluded with Kunzwiler connecting with Treadwell for a last-second basket.
Continuing the trend, the Hatters opened the third quarter with an early basket from Talley.
Subsequently, Stetson embarked on a dominant 22-4 run after a pair of free throws from Webber International. The run featured consecutive three-pointers from Kunzwiler, with Fontaine contributing five points. Peete initiated the run with a three-pointer, and Mitchell secured her first basket as a Hatter during this impressive stretch.
In the closing moments of the third quarter, freshman guard
Jorah Eppley set up Keshi for a layup with 30 seconds remaining. Eppley continued her playmaking by assisting Carter-Hartley, who scored in the final seconds of the quarter.
Keshi resumed the scoring in the fourth quarter, notching the first points a minute and 40 seconds in, once again benefiting from an assist by Eppley.
The teams traded baskets in a 5-4 run by Stetson before an eventful final minute unfolded. Kunzwiler contributed by scoring in the paint with 2:47 left, extending Stetson's lead to 48 points, their largest of the game. Shortly thereafter, Kunzwiler responded to a Webber International jumper with her fourth three-pointer of the game.
Following a set of free throws by the Warriors, Kunzwiler facilitated a play by feeding Fontaine down low. Fontaine successfully made the basket and drew a foul, converting the ensuing free throw to reach double figures.
With this performance, the Hatters secured their second win of the season, maintaining a perfect 2-0 record at the Edmunds Center.
Kunzwiler showcased an impressive shooting performance, going five of ten from the floor, including four of nine from beyond the arc, to secure a team-high 14 points. Treadwell and Peete both contributed 12 points each, with Treadwell leading the team in rebounds with eight. Treadwell shot five of nine and recorded three assists, while Peete went two of six from beyond the arc.
Talley, Keshi, and Fontaine all finished with 10 points, with the latter two coming off the bench. The bench played a significant role, contributing 41 points compared to Webber International's 8.
Stetson dominated the rebounding game, outrebounding the Warriors 55-37. Notably, the team excelled in the paint, scoring 54 of their points below the rim.
Now standing at 2-6, Stetson will hit the road again on Sunday, Dec. 3 to face #17 Indiana University in Bloomingdale, at 2:00 PM.
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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