DeLAND, Fla. - The Stetson University Women's basketball team took to the Edmunds Center on Wednesday afternoon to close out the Holiday Hoops Classic against Valparaiso.

In a game that saw six lead changes, the Hatters emerged victorious over the Beacons with a final score of 78-62, improving their season record to 4-9. The triumph was a collective achievement, marked by balanced scoring, as five different Hatters reached double figures. Notably, Khamya McNeal showcased her scoring ability by leading the team with 17 points, achieving a season-high performance.

Jamiya Turner concluded the game with a notable performance, securing eight rebounds and surpassing the two rebounds required to achieve the milestone of 500 career rebounds.

"I was very proud of our effort, especially after playing three games in four days," said Head Coach Lynn Bria.

Talley set the tone for the game by swiftly sinking a basket, courtesy of an assist from McNeal, a mere eight seconds into the contest.

The Hatters quickly gained a three-point lead, their largest of the first quarter, when Quentarra Mitchell capitalized on a fast break initiated by a Skylar Treadwell steal. Treadwell then went on to convert one of two free throws, bringing the score to 5-2.

During the game, the Beacons initiated an 8-2 run, with the only Stetson basket in that stretch coming from McNeal. However, Promise Keshi halted the run by sinking a jumper on an assist from McNeal.

Stetson regained the lead when Turner delivered a seamless pass to Jaelyn Talley, who scored a layup under the basket.

The teams traded three-pointers, with Stetson's contribution from Keshi, and both squads added a single free throw each, resulting in a 15-15 tie as the first quarter concluded.

In the early moments of the second quarter, Stetson seized the lead when freshman Sophia Fontaine secured an offensive rebound and finished at the rim.

In a back-and-forth exchange, both teams participated in a Stetson 8-6 run, highlighted by three consecutive baskets for the Hatters. Four different players contributed to Stetson's scoring spree, while Valparaiso's points came from beyond the arc.

Despite Stetson holding a seven-point lead with a little over five minutes left in the first half, the Beacons narrowed the deficit to just one with a crucial three-pointer. However, the Hatters responded emphatically, scoring six unanswered points, including a last-second jumper from the elbow by Turner, to close out the half.

Following a quick three-pointer from the Beacons to kick off the third quarter, the Hatters responded with a four-point swing. Valparaiso, however, initiated a 6-0 run of their own before Talley halted the surge with a successful and-1 opportunity.

McNeal then showcased her prowess from beyond the arc, heating up with a pair of three-pointers. This marked her fifth game with two or more made shots from deep.

Stetson closed out the final two minutes of the third quarter with an 6-0 run, highlighted by another last-second shot from Turner from the elbow.

Turner's clutch shot extended the Hatters' lead to 13 points, marking their largest advantage of the day. However, the Beacons launched an 11-5 run at the start of the closing quarter. This run, featuring a basket from freshman Diawna Carter-Hartley, was ultimately stopped by freshman guard Anna Kunzwiler. Kunzwiler, who led the Hatters with 14 points in the last game, drained her first and only three-pointer of the day.

Following Jordan Peete's jumper, which extended the Hatters' lead to 12 points, the Beacons launched a comeback with a 10-4 run. However, McNeal delivered a timely three-pointer to extinguish the effort and prevent the deficit from narrowing past six. Seizing the momentum, Stetson closed out the game with authority, embarking on a 9-2 run. This strong finish secured their fourth victory of the season.

As a collective unit, Stetson demonstrated impressive shooting, boasting a 52.9 percent success rate from the field by making 27 of their 51 attempts. They connected on five of their 14 three-point attempts. A significant portion of their scoring, 19 points to be precise, came from the free-throw line, where the team showcased a solid 70.4 percent accuracy.

McNeal spearheaded the Hatters' offensive charge with 17 points and three assists, shooting efficiently at 5-of-8 from the field, with three successful shots from beyond the arc.

Peete contributed 12 points to the victory, with five of those coming from successful free throws. This marked her seventh game with double-figure points.

Turner and Talley both concluded the day with 10 points each, with Turner slightly edging out Talley with eight rebounds compared to Talley's six. Turner also added four assists to her final stat line.

Mitchell rounded out the Hatters' double-digit scorers, contributing 11 points off the bench along with seven rebounds.

Stetson asserted dominance in the paint, outscoring the Beacons 36-22 in that area. Additionally, they showcased superiority on the boards, outrebounding their opponents by a substantial margin of 41-25.

The Hatters, now 4-9, will return to action on Saturday, Dec. 30 when they host Flagler for their final non-conference match of the season at the historic Edmunds Center. The game will be streamed on ESPN+ with live stats available at gohatters.com.

 
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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