Feb. 22, 2008

Babson Park, Fl - First year women's basketball team, St. Thomas University ended their season with a loss in the final four of the Florida Sun Conference Tournament to Northwood University 57-50 (OT). All FSC 1st team Cindy Castrillon led the Bobcats in scoring with 11. Brittany Washington, Brittany Owens, and Francesca Dernocelley all scored 10.

St. Thomas (17-10, 6-6 in FSC) took charge of the game early with an 8-0 run. Brittany Owens scored six of those points hitting a jump shot and two layups. The Bobcats maintained their eight point lead seven minutes into the game after Haleema Linares snatched down an offensive rebound and made good on a layup.

The Seahawks (22-7, 9-3 in FSC) remained steady and slowly closed the gab on the score board. The Seahawks attempt to gain control of the game became more difficult when FSC Player of the Year Kara Otterbine earned her third foul and was taken out of the game at the 8:05 mark. At that moment the Bobcats led by four.

Without Otterbine the Seahawks continued to chip away at the Bobcats' lead and eventually led by as much as three. The Seahawks were assisted in their effort to gain the lead by a stagnant Bobcat offense. St. Thomas did not score a point for five minutes and 30 seconds.

Brittany Washington would provide a spark for the Bobcat's offense with her defense. She had two consecutive steals and converted one into a layup. At halftime the score was 23-22.

The Seahawks began the second half much better than they started the game. Their fast start was capped off by a three-pointer by Taylor Wencis which made the score 31-24.

Washington came into the game soon after this and like in the first half she brought energy with her. She grabbed three rebounds, made a steal, and scored six points during a 14-2 St. Thomas run. The run gave the Bobcats a 42-34 lead with less than seven minutes remaining in the game.

Though their lead disappeared the Bobcats still had the ball with less than 15 seconds remaining. Unfortunately for the Bobcats they were unable to get a shot off and went to overtime 44-44.

In overtime the Seahawks scored first and eventually led by eight. Castrillon and Carissa Staiano's three-pointers almost erased the eight point deficit bringing the Bobcats within three, but there was not enough time and too many made free-throws by the Seahawks.