AUSTIN, TX-- St. Thomas responded with a strong bounce-back performance on the road, pulling away in the second half to secure a 72–55 conference win over Concordia on Sunday. The victory moves the Celts to 11–5 overall and 5–4 in conference.
UST set the tone early, opening the game with energy on both ends of the floor. Kenna Gibson got the Celts going with a tip-in and later knocked down a three-pointer as St. Thomas built momentum quickly. The Celts forced multiple turnovers in the opening quarter, turning defense into offense, while Laura Jones and Yasmine Aly each connected from beyond the arc. UST closed the first quarter on a surge, taking a commanding 26–10 lead.
In the second quarter, Concordia looked to settle in offensively, but the Celts continued to apply pressure. Amyia Bowie drilled a three-pointer and sparked fast-break opportunities, while Nora Aigberadion capitalized at the free-throw line to keep the lead intact. Despite a brief push from the Tornados late in the half, UST maintained control and went into halftime up 40–26.
The Celts came out of the break poised and aggressive. Bowie and Aly each hit timely three-pointers, while Macie Whitfield finished strong inside to stretch the advantage. Gibson added another triple midway through the third quarter as UST steadily widened the gap. By the end of the period, the Celts had built a 64–42 cushion.
Concordia attempted to rally in the fourth, but St. Thomas stayed composed. The Celts continued to generate stops, forcing turnovers and capitalizing at the free-throw line. Late buckets from Madison Stewart sealed the win as UST closed out the contest with confidence.
Amyia Bowie led the way for the Celts with 18 points, knocking down three three-pointers while also pulling down 11 rebounds and adding six steals. Kenna Gibson followed with 12 points, including three shots from beyond the arc, while contributing six rebounds. Laura Jones and Yasmine Aly each chipped in eight points to provide balanced scoring support.
Up Next
The Celts return to the Houston area before hitting the road again on February 5, when they travel to face Schreiner. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. For updates, visit ustcelts.com or follow @ustwbasketball on Instagram.
