Women’s win streak continues at 7

Improved performance by the Saints has helped them close in on .500

By Devon Jeffreys | djeffreys@flagler.edu

When the Flagler Saints Women’s Basketball team entered the winter break with a record of 2-11, it seemed like a nightmare season was imminent.

But riding a current seven-game win streak to improve their record to 11-14, the Saints have been able to salvage the season and get back on track.

“We’re finally on the right track this second semester,” senior point guard Melanie Aguila said. “We played a really hard schedule the first semester so we’re actually now playing as a team and getting our confidence back.”

Saints Coach Sherri Abbey-Nowatzki said the tough schedule put the team on their back, but she’s proud they’ve been able to rebound.

“It shook our confidence,” she said. “I think our girls are seeing that because they’ve been in tough situations…they’re starting to see that the hard work and the type of opponents they’ve played have really prepared us to win these games now. They really are a good team and can take it to the next level.”

Senior Brittney Garmon, who is averaging 10.9 points and 10.6 rebounds per game, has led the Saints.
On Feb. 8, Garmon grabbed her 739th career rebound, a school record. She also scored her 1,000th career point in late January.

“She doesn’t say much but she leads, definitely, by example,” junior guard Christy Forsyth said. “She’s got the best work ethic on the team, that’s really good as a leader.”

Forsyth leads the team in shooting percentage at 46 percent and is a 55 percent shooter from three-point range, also a team best.

Another junior, Elizabeth Tuzzolo, has also been a key factor in the Saints’ late-season success. Her 40 three-pointers and 37 blocks are the best on the team.

“She’s talented,” Nowatzki said of Tuzzolo. “She’s not a physical player per say, but she’s a smart player. She understands our system and understands the game.”

The Saints’ recent surge has happened at the perfect time for a team looking to make an impact in the NCAA Div. II National Independent Tournament Feb. 23-26.

“We really want to finish strong,” Tuzzolo said. “We feel like we can win the rest of the games from here on out and be able to compete in the [tournament].”

“Since we raised all the money to do it, we worked so hard, we don’t want to just go a nd lose every game,” Tuzzolo said.