SEGUIN, Texas -- The #RV Texas Lutheran women's basketball team (13-4, 8-0 SCAC) won its ninth consecutive game of the season over St. Thomas at Memorial Gymnasium, 85-76, on Friday night.

The 8-0 start ties last year's squad for the best start to SCAC play for Texas Lutheran since joining the conference in 2013-14.

Senior Lauren Sansano (San Antonio/FEAST) scored a career-high 33 points on 10-of-18 shooting to lead the Bulldogs in their nine point win over the Celts (11-5, 4-4 SCAC). She reached 1,000 career points in the win, where she also recorded her second double-double of the season with a career-high 14 rebounds, five assists, two steals, and a block. Sansano is the 14th player in program history to reach the 1,000 point milestone; with the last coming last season with former teammate, Kailee Mulkey. Sansano is the first player in program history with 1,000-plus points and 250-plus assists in their career. Her 33-point performance is the first 30+ point performance since Cami Davis (30) against UMHB in 2017 and the most in a single-game since Taylor Dydalewicz scored 36 points against UMHB in 2014.

Redshirt junior Davi'Yanna Jones (San Antonio/Stevens) also reached double figures, scoring 19 points in the game. Jones finished with ten rebounds as well for her third double-double of the season. Jones, who ranks second in the SCAC in field goal percentage, continued her efficient style of play - shooting 53 percent from the field.

Senior Sarahi Jones (Los Fresnos/Los Fresnos) was the final Bulldog in double figures with 13 points, ten rebounds, three assists, and two blocks. Jones, who earned SCAC Offensive Player of the Week honors on Monday, finished 6-of-14 from the floor on Friday night for her fifth double-double of the season.

Sansano began her dominant performance in the first quarter, ensuring the game was tied 14-all. She scored the first points of the game on a second chance basket. Sansano finished the first frame with eight points on 3-of-6 shooting alongside five rebounds. Sarahi Jones added four points in the first quarter and Noelani Ajel (Cibolo/Steele) recorded two assists.

The Bulldogs got out quickly in the second quarter, extending their lead to as many as 18 points in the quarter, outscoring the Celts 24-10. Sansano continued to be dominant, recording eight points, grabbing four rebounds, and dishing out three assists - mostly to Davi'Yanna Jones - who led the team with ten points in the quarter.

The Celts found success on the offensive end in the third quarter, but the Bulldogs still won the quarter 28-24. Sansano continued to pour it on with nine points and three rebounds, establishing a new career-high in points and rebounds in only three quarters. Davi'Yanna Jones and Hannah Gallegos (San Antonio/Harlan) added five points each in the third.

The Celts made it competitive in the fourth, outscoring TLU 28-19 but despite losing the fourth, the Bulldogs were able to secure the wire-to-wire win. Sansano brought it home for TLU scoring eight more in the fourth to close her career-night.

The Bulldogs continue SCAC play on Saturday, January 31 against Colorado College at Memorial Gymnasium. Tip-off is set for 6 PM. The game will be streamed on FloCollege. All streaming and live stats links will be available on tlubulldogs.com.

Fans can receive updates by following @tluathletics & @tluwbb on X (Twitter) and catch up with the latest news and notes on the team by clicking LIKE on the TLU Athletics Facebook page at @tlubulldogs or by visiting the team's Instagram page at @tluwbb and as always follow TLU athletics on all of our social channels for updates on all things TLU Athletics.