DeLAND, FL – The Stetson Hatters tipped off the New Year in style, securing a 79-64 victory over the West Georgia Wolves in their ASUN opener at the Insight Credit Union Arena on Thursday night. The Hatters saw a strong contribution from their bench, which accounted for 34 points, and four players scored in double figures for just the second time this season.
Leading the charge was Cameron Thomas, who poured in a game-high 21 points. Thomas, now with six 20-point performances this season—including three in a row—closed out 2024 with 54 points across two games at the Holiday Hoops Classic. Shelby Calhoun and Diawna Carter-Hartley added season-high performances with 12 and 11 points, respectively, off the bench, while Promise Keshi chipped in 11 points on a perfect 4-of-4 shooting night.
The Hatters came out strong, opening the game with a 7-3 lead before a 5-0 run—capped by a bucket from Quentarra Mitchell—extended the advantage to 12-3 late in the first quarter. Despite a brief push by the Wolves, Stetson ended the opening period with a 14-9 lead, which they never relinquished.
Stetson's dominance continued in the second quarter. After building their lead to 31-25, Thomas drained a three-pointer during a late 5-0 run to push the margin to 36-25. The Hatters entered halftime up 40-29, fueled by an 18-point effort in the paint during the period.
In the third quarter, Stetson maintained control. A 7-0 run, highlighted by a basket from Calhoun, widened the lead to 55-43 with 2:46 remaining. The Hatters carried a 59-47 advantage into the final frame.
The fourth quarter sealed the win for Stetson, as an 11-0 surge—capped by a Calhoun jumper—pushed the lead to 70-49 with 5:58 to play. Though the Wolves managed to narrow the gap slightly, the Hatters comfortably closed out the game for the 79-64 victory.
Now 7-6 overall and 1-0 in ASUN play, Stetson will return to action on Saturday, Jan. 4, hosting the Queens Royals at 2:00 PM in the Insight Credit Union Arena.
Milestone Watch:
- Graduate forward Tiasia McMillan is closing in on two major career milestones:
- She needs just 37 points to reach 1,000 career points.
- She is also seven blocks away from reaching 100 career blocks.
