LAKE WALES, Fla. – In their first home game of 2016, Warner University women's basketball team lost to Keiser University 64-55. The loss drops the Lady Royals' record to 6-9 overall and 1-4 in The Sun Conference.
The Seahawks scored the first points of the game and never trailed the rest of the way, leading for nearly all 40 minutes. The Lady Royals trailed by seven at the end of the first quarter and got to within six points midway through the second quarter before the Seahawks' lead grew to double-digits at halftime.
The Seahawks made 5-of-11 shots from behind the arc in the first half leading them to a 33-22 halftime lead.
Porsche Shakes led the Warner offense with seven first half points.
I'munique Green scored for the Lady Royals on their first possession of the second half. The deficit was down to single digits three minutes later as the Lady Royals turned up the defensive pressure on the Seahawks.
Trailing by 14 entering the fourth quarter, the Lady Royals continued to battle back connecting on 5-of-8 shots to begin the period.
Charisa Broadway brought the Lady Royals to within seven, 58-51 with 2:22 remaining in regulation but a quick 5-0 run put the visitors back in front by 12 with just over a minute to go in the game. In their final possession, Warner's
Kaley Schmick got a fastbreak layup to make a nine-point game 64-55 but that was as close as the Lady Royals would come.
Schmick and
Mariah Williams scored 28 of Warner's 55 points. Both players finished with 14 points as the Lady Royals shot 33.8% from the field as a team on Saturday afternoon. Schmick also led the team with eight rebounds and three steals.
Next week the Lady Royals host Ave Maria University on Wednesday night, Jan. 20. The Lady Royals and Gyrenes will tip-off at 5 p.m. from the Turner Athletic Center.
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