DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – In their first game of the Bahama House & Best Western Aku Tiki Shootout, Warner University women's basketball team defeated Trinity International University (Ill.) 65-58 on Friday afternoon in the ICI Center on the campus of Embry-Riddle University. The win snapped a three-game losing streak for the Lady Royals and improved their record to 4-5.
The Lady Royals never trailed in the game despite three first half tie scores.
Hannah Kotzen hit one of her two first half three pointers at the 4:53 mark to give Warner a 23-13 lead, their largest of the half. The Lady Royals led by as many as 11 points down the stretch before taking a 30-21 lead into the break.
Kotzen led the first half scoring effort with 10 points.
Corlisa Pope and
Leilani Tuani-Fifita both grabbed six rebounds to lead the team.
The Lady Royals offense picked up in the second half to the tune of 47.8% shooting from the field. After five minutes of second half action,
Montana Bass hit two free throws to give Warner their largest lead of the game, 41-25. The Trojans cut the Lady Royals' lead to six, 47-41, with a 16-6 run down to the 8:31 mark. Kotzen pushed the Lady Royals lead back to double digits by scoring the next five points down to the 7:21 mark.
The Trojans' comeback bid was thwarted down the stretch thanks to the Lady Royals defensive effort holding them to 31.3% shooting from the field and 0-for-5 on three point attempts.
Kotzen added 14 points to her first half total and finished with a team-high 24 points. She was 8-of-12 from the field and 4-of-7 from behind the arc. Kotzen also dished five assists.
Montana Bass scored 11 of her 15 points in the second half as well and was 7-of-8 from the free throw line. Both Tuani-Fifita and Pope finished with 10 rebounds. Tuani-Fifita added seven points and two blocked shots as well.
On Saturday, Jan. 3, the Lady Royals return to the ICI Center for day two of the Bahama House & Best Western Aku Tiki Shootout. The Lady Royals will take on Southwestern College (Kan.) at 1 p.m. Following the game live by visiting
www.erauathletics.com/live
