LAKE WALES, Fla. – The Lady Royals basketball team dropped its 10^th straight game on Thursday night in the Turner Athletic Center to the visiting Lady Nighthawks of Thomas University (Ga.), 80-67. The loss drops the Lady Royals to 5-16 overall and 1-11 in Sun Conference play.

The Lady Royals jumped out to a 3-0 thanks to a deep shot from Hannah Kotzen behind the arc. However, that would be the only time the home side would lead. The Lady Royals finished the first half with 21 points and shot 64% from the field. Kotzen and Montana Bass both finished with five points. The Lady Royals went into the locker room trailing 37-19.

The second half was all Thomas, leading by as many as 20 points. The Lady Royals battled back in the final 10 minutes of the game and tried to steal a victory. Marie Fleurival cut the Lady Nighthawks lead to eight, but that was as close as they would get. Much of the Lady Nighthawks success came from the hot-hand of Courtney Saunds, who finished with a game-high 22 points.

The Lady Royals shot 58% from the field in the game and 43% from deep. Montana Bass finished with a team-high 12 points for the Lady Royals. Despite the loss, the Lady Royals had a good scoring effort with four players registering double-digits. Hannah Kotzen, Marie Fleurival, and Leilani Tuani-Fifita all finished with 10 points each. The Lady Royals also saw 32 points from their bench.

Next up for the Lady Royals will be a trip to Daytona Beach, Fla. to take on Embry-Riddle University in Sun Conference action on Saturday, Feb. 7^th at 5:30 p.m. The team will remain on the road, traveling across the lake to Webber International University and will then head down south to take on Florida Memorial University. The next home game for the Lady Royals will come on Tuesday, Feb. 17^th against Northwood University. That game is set for a 5:30 p.m. tip-off at the Turner Athletic Center.