DELAND, Fla. – In their home debut at the Insight Credit Union Arena, the Stetson Hatters put on a commanding performance, with five players scoring in double figures en route to a 102-43 victory over the Fort Lauderdale Eagles on Thursday night. This marks the Hatters' first time hitting the 100-point mark since their season-opening 127-36 win over Johnson University on November 9, 2021.
Now 1-1 on the season, Stetson was led once again by Cameron Thomas, who recorded 26 points, six rebounds, and two steals. Graduate forward Tiasia McMillan showcased her versatility, finishing with a 12-point, 12-rebound double-double while dishing out a team-high six assists. McMillan also reached a major milestone, securing her 500th career rebound in the game.
Jorah Eppley contributed 15 points off the bench, while Noga Haran added 13 points and two steals, also off the bench. Promise Keshi rounded out the Hatters' double-figure scorers, finishing with 11 points and eight boards.
The Hatters dominated on the glass, out-rebounding the Eagles 57-35, with 27 of those coming on the offensive end, leading to 21 second-chance points.
Stetson jumped to an 18-12 lead before a 9-0 run, capped by a bucket from freshman forward Raven LeXander, extended the margin to 27-12 to close the first quarter. LeXander's basket marked her first points at the collegiate level. The Hatters scored 24 of their 27 first-quarter points in the paint.
Building on their momentum, Stetson launched a 19-0 run late in the second quarter, pushing the lead to 50-16 by halftime. The Hatters hit five three-pointers in the period, scoring 15 of their 23 second-quarter points from deep.
Stetson's dominance continued in the third quarter, beginning with a 12-0 run punctuated by a Mary McMillan three-pointer to make it 66-20 at the 4:38 mark. By the end of the period, the Hatters led 77-27, boosted by four three-pointers in the quarter.
The Hatters sealed the win with a 9-0 run in the fourth, topped off by a layup from Thomas, stretching the lead to 95-38 with under two minutes remaining. Stetson scored seven points off seven turnovers in the final quarter, cruising to the 102-43 victory.
Stetson shot 46.4% from three-point range, connecting on 13 of 28 attempts, while holding Fort Lauderdale to just 21.4% from the field, including 14.3% from beyond the arc. The Hatters' defense forced 31 turnovers, converting them into 48 points.
Stetson returns to action next Wednesday, November 13, hosting Edward Waters at the Insight Credit Union Arena at 7:00 PM.
