DeLand, Fla. – Forwards Breana Bey and Sarah Sagerer each posted double doubles as Stetson improved to 4-0 on the season with a 72-55 victory over Eastern Illinois Saturday night at the Edmunds Center.
Bey and Sagerer dominated the boards all night, combining for 35 points and 22 rebounds.
"The rebounding with both of them the entire game was really, really good," Stetson head coach Lynn Bria said about Bey and Sagerer. "They both have a nose for the ball."
Brianti Saunders added 20 points, including the 1500th point of her career, but was quick to give credit to her post players after the game.
"I think the key to the game was Sarah and Bey getting those offensive rebounds to get our offense started," Saunders said. "When they play like that, it is hard to defend us. The defense crowds in on them which allows them to kick it out."
One game after falling behind to Bethune-Cookman, the Hatters were the aggressors on Saturday, jumping out to a 22-8 lead after the first quarter. Stetson hit its first five shots from the floor and led 17-2 after the first five minutes.
"I do think in the first quarter we were really good, and thank goodness we were because all the other quarters were pretty even," Bria said.
Bey finished with 20 points, including an 8-for-9 night from the free throw line, and 10 rebounds. Sagerer had 15 points, 12 rebounds, and two blocks. She also hit a pair of 3-pointers including one that turned into a four-point play. It was the second double-doubles of the year for each.
Saunders added six assists and five rebounds to her stat line, while Brittney Chambers tallied nine points.
Erica Brown led the Panthers (2-2) with 17 points.
Having won all four home games to open the season, the Hatters will play their next six games on the road, beginning with an 8 p.m. Monday contest at Arkansas.
Notes: Brianti Saunders is the fifth player in school history to reach the 1500-point milestone. She also topped 20 points for the 22nd time in her career ... Stetson's 4-0 start ties for the best start in school history (third time) ... Bey and Sagerer each collected their sixth career double-doubles ... Bey reached 20 points for the third time in her career ... Stetson has outrebounded its opponent and scored more points in the paint in all four games this season.
