DeLAND, FL – Following a stellar 30-point outing just a day earlier, Cameron Thomas continued her dominant week with 24 points on 8-of-14 shooting, leading Stetson to a 66-58 victory over the Bradley Braves on Friday afternoon at the Insight Credit Union Arena. Thomas's two-game total of 54 points capped off 2024 in style for the Hatters, who conclude their non-conference schedule with a 6-6 record.

Thomas's contributions went beyond scoring. The junior guard added two steals and a season-high three blocks, becoming the third Hatter this season to record three or more blocks in a game.

Off the bench, Shelby Calhoun provided a crucial spark with 10 points and six rebounds. Meanwhile, Jorah Eppley added six rebounds and a career-best four steals, despite being limited to just two points.

The Hatters dominated the glass, out-rebounding Bradley 37-21, including 11 offensive boards that led to 12 second-chance points. On defense, Stetson forced 17 turnovers and converted them into 13 points.

After an early 5-4 lead, the Hatters went on an 8-0 run midway through the first quarter, punctuated by a Diawna Carter-Hartley layup, to push their advantage to 13-4. Stetson carried an 18-12 lead into the second quarter, fueled by 14 points in the paint.

The Hatters maintained their edge in the second quarter, using a 5-0 spurt highlighted by a Quentarra Mitchell 3-pointer to extend their lead to 31-24. Though Bradley closed the gap, Stetson held a slim 31-28 advantage at halftime.

Stetson came out firing in the third, putting together a decisive 9-0 run, capped by a Tiasia McMillan basket, to build a 40-28 lead. The Hatters' defense shone, holding the Braves to just 25% shooting (2-for-8) in the period and entering the fourth quarter up 48-38.

In the final frame, the Hatters continued to press their advantage, with another 5-0 run capped by McMillan's layup, stretching the lead to 63-49 with just over two minutes remaining. While the Braves trimmed the margin late, Stetson remained firmly in control to secure the victory.

The Hatters will kick off the new year and begin conference play on Thursday, January 2, hosting the West Georgia Wolves at 7:00 PM at the Insight Credit Union Arena.

Milestone Tracker
Tiasia McMillan is approaching the 1,000 career points mark! The graduate forward needs just 43 points!