LAKE WALES, Fla. - In their first home game in two weeks, Warner University women's basketball team defeated Northwood University 73-66 on Tuesday night in the Turner Athletic Center.  The Lady Royals got 23 points from senior Marie Fleurival and picked up their seventh victory of the season (7-19) and their third in The Sun Conference (3-13).  The Seahawks drop to 4-21 overall and 3-13 in league play.

The Lady Royals led at halftime 35-29 behind one of their best shooting halves of the season.  The Lady Royals shot 56.5% from the field in the first half and got 10 points from
Marie Fleurival.  At the 6:38 mark, the Lady Royals held their largest lead of the game, 28-16.

The Seahawks came charging back in the second half thanks to 54.5% shooting from the field.  Lakeisha Blanson cut the Lady Royals' lead to three, 49-46, with a bucket at the 13:12 mark.  The Lady Royals came right back with a quick 6-0 run that pushed their lead back to nine points, 55-46. 

Over the next six minutes the Seahawks went on a 14-4 run down to the 3:58 mark and took their first lead since early in the first half, 60-59.  Fleurival, however, put the Lady Royals right back on top with a pair of free throws 10 seconds later.  From there the Lady Royals held a narrow lead over the Seahawks until the final two minutes when another quick 6-0 run put the game out of reach 69-62.

The lead ballooned to nine points in the final minute for the Lady Royals before they ended the game 73-66.

Fleurival finished the game with 23 points on 9-of-15 shooting and seven rebounds.  Mariah Williams came off the bench to score 14 points and grab four rebounds.  Montana Bass also reached double-digits with 10 points in the victory.

On Thursday, Feb. 19, the Lady Royals return to the hardwood in the Turner Athletic Center to face Johnson & Wales University.  Tip-off is scheduled for 5 p.m.