Box Score LAKELAND, Fla.- Southeastern needed every one of its 20 3-point shots to secure a 70-67 win over first place St. Thomas.
Trailing 67-64 with 2:12 to go, sophomore Alyssa Ramos hit a long 3-pointer from the right wing to tie the game. Ramos, 38 seconds later, hit another long 3-ball from the wing to give the Fire a 3-point lead with 1:34 to go.
"Both Alyssa and Carlie (Newman) have good, quick releases, and they know I have confidence in them," said Coach Jody Martinez.
The Bobcats (15-4, 8-1 TSC) had two 3-point shots in the final 1:19 of the contest, but couldn't get either to fall, as they hit just one the whole night on 11 attempts. Meanwhile, the Fire (17-5, 8-2 TSC) dialed in 20 of their 45 attempts from bonus range, led by Ramos, who connected on 8-of-15 for a game-high 24 points.
"If we're open it's going up," said Martinez of the team's outside shooting. "Cassidy Block did a great job of freezing up the post defense and bringing defenders in."
Southeastern trailed for just 34 seconds in the first half when Cleyder Blanco turned one of SEU's 15 turnovers into a layup to put the Bobcats up 12-11. The Fire answered with seven straight points, which included another 3-pointer by Ramos.
The first half lead hit 11 when Ramos hit a 3-pointer followed by a 3-pointer from Cassidy Block at the 5:37 mark to give the Fire a 28-17 advantage. A 3-ball by Ramos with 41 seconds left in the half gave the Fire a 34-29 lead at the half, and ended a 12-3 run by St. Thomas.
The Bobcats regained the lead with 12:11 left in the contest on a 7-0 run to take a 48-46 lead. After a timeout by Martinez, Ramos, Tiara Young, and Bailey Hooker hit 3-pointers on consecutive possessions to push the lead to seven (55-48) with 10:28 to go.
St. Thomas made it interesting with six straight points to take a 62-61 lead with 4:43 left. Cassidy Block hit a 3-pointer which was answered by the only three of the night by the Bobcats from Desanta Franklin-Jordan with 3:23 left.
Carlie Newman added 21 points in the win, and Block added 15 points and eight rebounds. Emma Loucks tied for a game-high 10 rebounds for SEU, who held a 36-33 advantage on the boards.
Southeastern next takes the floor on Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. when it travels to Warner.
