MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (January 6, 2018) – The Webber International University women's basketball team scored the first 12 points of the second quarter to take a four-point lead over the Lions, but in the end it would not be enough as a rough third quarter led to a 77-54 loss for the Warriors against Florida Memorial University on Saturday at the FMU Wellness Center.

Trailing by eight (19-11) after the opening 10 minutes, Webber (6-11 overall, 1-6 Sun Conference) began the second quarter with 12 consecutive points over the first six and a half minutes of the period to jump ahead by four at 23-19. Samantha Vitulli and Shayla McPhearson both connected on 3-pointers and scored twice during the run for the Warriors.

However, after another score by Vitulli on the assist from McPhearson to put Webber up 25-21 with 2:49 left before halftime, Florida Memorial (10-5, 5-2) proceeded to close the half on a 6-1 run to grab a one-point lead (27-26) at the break. Then, the Lions quickly expanded their lead to eight (37-29) three minutes into the third quarter.

After two free throws by Tiffany Zito made it a six-point game at 45-39 with four minutes left in the third quarter, FMU went on to score 12 points in a row to go ahead by 18 (57-39) with only a minute left in the period. In all, the Lions finished the third quarter on a 15-1 run to pull away by 20 at 60-40.

Ashley Perry, the conference's reigning player of the week, led the Warriors with 16 points on 6-of-7 shooting from the free throw line. Perry also added five rebounds, four steals and two blocks, and has now scored 16 or more points in three straight games and has amassed four steals in four straight games. In two games this week, she finished 18-of-22 from the free throw line, good for a nearly 82 percent mark from the charity stripe.

Behind Perry, three Warriors (Montrese Weller, Vitulli and Zito) scored eight points each while McPhearson added six and Jakia Davis had five. Zito also recorded double-digit rebounds for the second straight game as she finished with 10 on Saturday.

Next up, Webber will play Keiser University in West Palm Beach, Florida, at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, January 11, before returning home on Saturday, January 13, to host Johnson & Wales University at 2 p.m.