HOUSTON, Texas -- The University of St. Thomas women's basketball team won its season-best third consecutive game Saturday, beating Wiley, 89-72, in the Jerabeck Activity & Athletic Center. St. Thomas (6-6, 3-2 Red River Athletic Conference) went 29 of 32 from the free throw line, including an 18-for-18 performance in the first half. Wiley (4-9, 2-3) was 17 of 25 from the stripe.
Sydney Hayes (JR/Houston, TX) scored in transition with 6:22 to go in the first period, and then forced a turnover after a timeout that led to two Olivia Anga (FR/Rosharon, TX) free throws and a 15-8 Celts lead. Hayes came away with a loose ball and fed Sheridan Hopkins (JR/Galveston, TX) in the middle of the lane for another transition basket and 21-12 UST lead. Yazmine Kellough (FR/Oak Ridge) canned a triple and then sank two free throws to help UST double up Wiley, 28-14, in the closing minute of the opening quarter.
The Celts shot 58 percent in the first quarter. The Wildcats shot 38 percent. Seven different players scored for the Celts.
Wiley's Armonie Lomax hit a three-pointer to cut UST's lead to 33-24 midway through the second quarter. Zariah McInnis (SO/Richmond, TX) hit a three of her own to propel the Celts out to a 40-28 lead with 2:20 remaining in the half.
St. Thomas led 46-32 at halftime. McInnis had 11 points, and Bresha Orange (SR/Longview, TX) 10 at the break.
Hayes scored on back-to-back possessions – the second which she converted into a three-point play after being fouled – to give St. Thomas a 56-40 lead with 6:00 to go in the third quarter. Wiley used a 9-2 run over the next three minutes to cut it to 58-49. Kiarra Lynch scored with 18 seconds left in the third to pull the Wildcats within three before Kellough sank two free throws to send the Celts into the final period up 65-60.
Hopkins knocked down a jumper in the paint to give St. Thomas a 73-65 lead at the 5:13 mark of the fourth. Hopkins banked in a shot with 2:59 to go to make it 79-67. Hayes hit a three, and Hopkins buried a jumper from the free throw line to push the Celts lead to 84-67.
The Celts went 27 of 66 from the field. The Wildcats were 26 of 70.
Five players scored in double figures, with three of those players having double figured rebounds for the Celts. Hopkins finished with 21 points, 13 rebounds and three steals for her fifth straight double-double. She scored 15 points in the fourth quarter. Orange had 15 points and 10 rebounds. Anga had 15 points and 13 boards. McInnis had 13 points and five rebounds. Hayes had 13 points, four assists and two steals.
The Celts will play at Louisiana-Shreveport 5:30 p.m. Friday and at No. 25 LSU-Alexandria 5:30 p.m. next Saturday. St. Thomas' next home game is Jan. 31 versus No. 14 Our Lady of the Lake.
