HOUSTON, TX – The St. Thomas Celts showcased grit and determination in their matchup against Division I opponent Houston Christian University (HCU) on Tuesday evening at Sharp Gym. Despite a strong showing, the Celts fell short in a 46-44 nail-biter against the Huskies. UST now holds a 2-5 record for the season.
St. Thomas set the tone early, building a 13-11 lead by the end of the first quarter and maintaining defensive intensity in the second. The Celts held HCU to just three points over the final eight minutes of the first half, closing the second quarter on a 12-3 run to take a commanding 27-16 lead into halftime.
HCU countered with a second-half rally sparked by their starters. The Huskies cut into St. Thomas's lead late in the third quarter, eventually pulling within eight points. The Celts responded resiliently, extending their lead to 43-30 in the fourth quarter after Joerdan Thomas drilled a clutch three-pointer. However, HCU capitalized on trips to the free-throw line, chipping away at the lead and pulling ahead in the final seconds.
Macie Whitfield led the Celts with 11 points on 5-of-11 shooting, while Joerdan Thomas added 10 points, including two crucial three-pointers. Kenna Gibson delivered a strong performance off the bench, scoring 9 points while grabbing 4 rebounds. The Celts dominated defensively, forcing 23 HCU turnovers while committing just 14 of their own. Additionally, Amber Bourgeois and Ravyn Ellis anchored the effort on the boards, combining for 11 rebounds.
Up Next
St. Thomas now turns its attention to its next challenge, a New Year's Eve home matchup against Mary Hardin-Baylor at 2:00 PM. For updates, visit USTCelts.com or follow @ustwbasketball on Instagram.