STUNT Impressive In Another Challenging Weekend

Denton, Texas - The Centenary College STUNT team was once again tested and challenged over the weekend in a trio of matches in the Texas Woman's University Tournament inside Kitty Magee Arena.

The Ladies faced the host Pioneers along with St. Edwards University, and St. Mary's University, all of which are division II schools and members of the Lonestar Conference.

In their first game on Friday night versus TWU, the Ladies put out six solid rounds of play and were forced to forfeit two because of calls from the Pioneers for routines the team didn't have. 

"While TWU was able to pull off a shutout against us, we went into that game kind of expecting it," said Centenary head coach Kaylee King. "They are a four-year veteran team with many wins under their belts. However, I was extremely proud of how well our team came out the gate and were hitting their material instead of having to gradually progress. That's something we've been working on, and it was great to see them take command and fight from the beginning." 

Game two of the night saw the Ladies take on the Hilltoppers of St. Edwards' in a 11-2 finish in favor of the Hilltoppers with Centenary tying for one point and claiming one point outright for their first point in the partner stunt quarter.

"The Hilltoppers played a great game. They play more like us as they're still a young and newer team, but they are clean. We hung right in with them but ultimately, lost the points by close margins. With each game, this team gets better and better and that was the best game we had played yet. The Ladies came to fight and show what they have been working on. Two points are hard to get. They are definitely earned and not given and I think that's something we are really seeing this season." 

On Saturday morning, the Ladies were the first game of the day versus St. Mary's University who had previously shut out their opponents the night before. Centenary was able to put up a fight however, and place a point on the board against the Rattlers.

"Placing that point on the board felt like we had won the whole thing. It was electrifying because we didn't expect it. We came in to play our game and worry about ourselves. We hadn't accepted defeat but were realistic about the possibility of a shutout score. The fight in this team this morning was unmatched. They have really locked in and begun to truly show and recognize what they are capable of." 

Centenary is currently ranked #7 in the DIII National Rankings. St. Mary's is currently #10 and Texas Woman's is #11 in a 24 deep DII division. St. Edwards is also ranked at #23 in DII. 

The Ladies will not play another DIII team all season. They have currently played a Junior College, NAIA, and several DII teams. As they head into the remainder of their season, they will see one more NAIA, and the remainder will be DI and DII programs. 

Along with points on the board, the team had five athletes hit 80 rounds of play - junior Jo Hoffman (Ragley, La.), sophomore Briara Thompson (Bossier City, La.), sophomore J'Anna Sweat (Pitkin, La.), sophomore Harleigh Doherty (Cincinnati, Ohio), and sophomore Dalila Ramirez (Austin, Texas).

Seven athletes finished with 90 rounds of play - senior Avery Cauley (Little Rock, Ark.), sophomore Ezmeriah Gonzalez (Longview, Texas), sophomore Leah Dawson (Shreveport, La.), freshman Bryanna Hutcherson (Normangee, Texas), freshman Trinity Bustamento (Blanchard, La.), sophomore Alli Ledoux (Port Barre, La.), and sophomore Kaitlynne Anderson (Carlisle, Pa.). Sophomore Lizzie Gilmore (Bossier City, La.) hit the floor for the first time ever going six rounds of play over the weekend.

Key players of the game included J'Anna Sweat, Lizzie Gilmore, Bryanna Hutcherson, and Briara Thompson with Lizzie Gilmore, Kaitlynne Anderson, and Dalila Ramirez being voted MVPs from their team. 

The Ladies return to action next weekend as they compete in the UCA Tournament for three contests.

See the complete Ladies' season schedule here: https://www.gocentenary.com/sports/stunt/2024-25/schedule

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